Kurdistan foreign minister

The Hanoitimes – The foreign ministers called for the full and serious implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

All foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed that the South China Sea continue to be a challenging issue and posing threats to regional peace and security.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at the AMM on November 10. Photo: Hai Minh

Unilateral activities, including militarization, unsubstantiated sovereignty claims, and continuous coercion have harmed the stability in the resources-rich sea, top diplomats of the 10-member bloc’s member states expressed concerns at the online ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) held on November 10.

Given this, the countries reiterated ASEAN’s stance and principles of peace and stability in the South China Sea and emphasized the role of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

They called for the full and serious implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and looked forward to the building of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) in line with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS.

For that reason, solidarity is the key factor to ensure peace, stability, independence and self-reliance amidst global uncertainties, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said at the meeting.

Vietnam is committed to closely coordinating with other ASEAN countries and China to fully and effectively implement the DOC and soon reach a result-oriented COC in line with international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS, he pledged.

Pandemic response

The online ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) held on November 10. Photo: Hai Minh

The top diplomats discussed ways to maintain economic continuity in ASEAN, agreeing that it is a must to ensure the continuity of supply chains, safely restore trade between countries, sign new-generation free trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and narrow the development gap in ASEAN by advancing cooperation between sub-regions.

Mr. Minh said it is time for ASEAN to demonstrate its solidarity to complete priorities and initiatives in 2020, realize the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, and effectively cope with emerging challenges, particularly Covid-19.

ASEAN has been aware of joint efforts to connect the member states in maintaining economic links. The representatives have highlighted policy priorities and strategies to mitigate the impact of the pandemic.

They also recommended taking advantage of the pandemic period to change the way things are done towards greater inclusivity, sustainability and resilience.

In addition, the participants discussed digitalization and its indispensable role in the Covid-19 response, recovery efforts and beyond, and highlighted the importance of stakeholder engagement and partnerships in the community-wide recovery.

Earlier, Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, head of the ASEAN SOM of Vietnam, said the new wave of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact the economic recovery while uncertainties in the regional and global major power competition together with traditional and non-traditional security issues are posing threats to regional stability.

The Hanoitimes – ASEAN foreign ministers’ first-time statement stresses the importance of multilateralism.

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in Southeast Asia as a message to both the US and China, according to Emeritus Prof. Carl Thayer, one of the world’s leading experts on Vietnam and the South China Sea.

ASEAN foreign ministers at the retreat held in Vietnam in January 2020. Photo: Asean2020.vn

The message is conveyed in the statement released earlier this month on the occasion of the 53 ^rd anniversary of the ASEAN establishment to highlight the ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led mechanisms in constructive engagement.

“In other words, ASEAN and its members will not join a US-led anti-China grouping and neither will they join China and exclude the US from regional affairs,” said Carl Thayer, a professor at the University of New South Wales, Canberra.

The scholar gave the analysis at a time when ASEAN foreign ministers issued this kind of statement for the first time. In the statement, they called on ‘all countries to exercise self-restraint… and refrain from the threat or use of force, and to resolve differences and disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law.’

Rise in US-China strategic rivalry

Prof. Thayer gave an overview on the current situation in Southeast Asia, in which the rise in intensity of US-China strategic rivalry across a number of issues namely trade disputes, response to the coronavirus pandemic, and South China Sea disputes has threatened both the security of individual ASEAN member states and ASEAN centrality in regional security.

The US amphibious assault ship USS America arrives at the Sattahip Naval Base in Chonburi, Thailand, ahead of the joint ‘Cobra Gold’ military exercise on February 22, 2020. Photo: AFP/ Handout/ Royal Thai Navy

Both China and the US have conducted major military exercises in the South China Sea.

In addition, the US has escalated its verbal criticism of the Communist Party of China and called on ‘free states’ to oppose Chinese ‘tyranny.’ In the lead up to the 53rd anniversary of ASEAN, between August 3 and 6, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo personally contacted the foreign ministers of Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam to offer US support in upholding their sovereign rights.

Meanwhile, on August 5, China’s State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused Washington of ‘seeking to drive a wedge between China and ASEAN countries, and disrupt the consultation process of the Code of Conduct.’ Wang Yi also called on ‘China and ASEAN countries… [to] work together to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea’ implying the exclusion of the US.

It is in this tense hot house atmosphere that Vietnam as ASEAN Chair has taken leadership to ensure that ASEAN and its members remain united and cohesive in the face of ‘geo-political dynamics’ that could impact to the detriment of ‘peace and stability, sustainable progress and prosperity’ in the region, the professor noted.

Promoting multilateralism

The Foreign Ministers’ Statement ended by reiterating ASEAN’s support for multilateralism, in which it highlighted the 2011 Declaration of the East Asia Summit on the Principles of Mutually Beneficially Relations.

Prof. Thayer said this declaration laid out the norms and principles that ASEAN expects both China and the US to adhere to. The East Asia Summit is an ASEAN-led mechanism.

In addition, ASEAN will reach out to its dialogue partners to convince them to work through ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit to be held at the end of this year in order to forestall the polarization of Southeast Asia, he added.

The statement also reaffirmed the importance of their ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific that set out four areas of cooperation: Maritime cooperation, connectivity, UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, and economic and other areas of cooperation. ASEAN will work hard to get both China and the US to support these priorities.

Finally, ASEAN will respond to Wang Yi’s August 5 proposal ‘that we remove all disturbances to restart as soon as possible the Code of Conduct (COC) consultation, and agree as early as possible on a set of rules for maintaining long-term peace and stability in the region,’ the professor stressed.

The Hanoitimes – The top diplomats reaffirmed the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

The foreign ministers of 10 ASEAN member states have been concerned about developments in the South China Sea, including land reclamations, recent developments and serious incidents.

ASEAN foreign ministers at the retreat held in Nha Trang city. Photo: VNA

The regional top diplomats expressed concerns at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat which concluded in Nha Trang city, Vietnam on January 17, 2020.

The Retreat is the first gathering of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers meetings in 2020 under the theme “Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN” to be held in Vietnam, which is chairing ASEAN.

Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, Chairman of the retreat. Photo: VGP

During the sitting, the foreign ministers discussed the situation in the South China Sea, saying that the developments have “eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region,” according to the press statement by the Chairman of the Retreat.

“We reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea and recognized the benefits of having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability and prosperity,” the press statement showed.

“We underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety. We were encouraged by the progress of the substantive negotiations towards the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) that is consistent with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.”

“We emphasized the need to maintain and promote an environment conducive to the COC negotiations, and thus welcomed practical measures that could reduce tensions and the risk of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculation. We stressed the importance of undertaking confidence building and preventive measures to enhance, among others, trust and confidence amongst parties; and we reaffirmed the importance of upholding international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.”

“We reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation and pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS. We reaffirmed that international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS is the basis for determining sovereignty, sovereign rights and legitimate interests over maritime areas.”

“We further reaffirmed that the 1982 UNCLOS is the overarching framework of legal order for the seas that must be respected by all countries. We emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the DOC that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea,” said the statement.

The Hanoitimes – Once again the 10-member bloc emphasizes the importance of centrality and unity in the face of rising threats posed to the region.

Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have stressed the importance of centrality and unity in the bloc’s external relations at the 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM).

The 53rd ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) takes place under the chair of Vietnam. Photo: MOFA

“We underscored the importance of strengthening ASEAN Centrality and unity in our engagement with ASEAN’s external partners through ASEAN-led mechanisms such as the ASEAN-Plus One, ASEAN Plus Three (APT), EAS, ARF, and ADMM-Plus, in order to build mutual trust and confidence as well as reinforce an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional architecture with ASEAN at the centre,” according to the joint statement.

“We noted with satisfaction the encouraging progress in ASEAN’s relations with our Dialogue Partners, Sectoral Dialogue Partners, and Development Partners through the existing frameworks, plans of action, and development cooperation programmes based on mutual interest and benefit. We acknowledged with appreciation the contribution of these partnerships to our ASEAN Community-building and development cooperation efforts.”

“We also welcomed the support of our partners for the priorities of ASEAN in 2020 in advancing a “Cohesive and Responsive” ASEAN. We agreed to further strengthen partnership and cooperation with our external partners, thus contributing to the continued efforts towards the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and our proactive response to emerging challenges.”

Importance of ASEAN Centrality

This technical term first appeared in the ASEAN Charter, the official document and the constitution of ASEAN.

In October 2010, in the Chair’s statement of the ASEAN Summit held in Hanoi, Vietnam also explicitly mentioned ASEAN centrality.

The concept of ASEAN centrality signifies that ASEAN needs to play a central role in multinational frameworks of the Asia-Pacific region.

This concept has been recognised as a ‘primary driving force’ to consolidate a framework, together with the cooperation of external partners, in evolving regional architecture and ASEAN integration, wrote Nishimura, H., M. Ambashi, and F. Iwasaki (2019), in their work titled “Strengthened ASEAN Centrality and East Asia Collective Leadership: Role of Japan-ASEAN Cooperation as Development of Heart-to-Heart Diplomacy”.

ASEAN centrality is a product of both ASEAN and external players, according to the authors.

Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, multilateral cooperation as seen within ASEAN is necessary to share best practices and provide support, Rifki Dermawan wrote for The Diplomat.

Regarding unity, regional media reported that it is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic has further enhanced ASEAN centrality and unity. As such, it is imperative for ASEAN to stick together to face the challenges posed by these external shocks.

Participants in the event included Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Thanh Tung and Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolas Hernandez.

Deputy Minister Son spoke of Vietnam’s situation, including the prominent outcomes of the 13th National Party Congress, measures in response to COVID-19, economic development, and social security ensuring.

He affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and wishes to continue deepening the special traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cuba.

For his part, Gonzalez also informed about the situation of his country, countermeasures to address difficulties caused by sanctions and the COVID-19 pandemic, and the updating of the socio-economic model.

The two officials reviewed and assessed the areas of cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba, as well as between the two foreign ministries. They also looked into ways to develop bilateral relations in a more intensive and comprehensive manner.

They agreed to keep close coordination to organize high-level visits when possible; effectively carry out cooperation mechanisms; increase exchanges between the countries’ ministries, sectors, and businesses; promote trade and investment ties; and work together in such spheres as food security, education, healthcare, science – technology, culture, sports, and tourism.

At the consultation, the deputy foreign ministers had in-depth discussion about global and regional issues of shared concern. They concurred in the continuation of coordination and mutual support at international organizations and multilateral forums of which both Vietnam and Cuba are members.

Source: VNA