Asean summit in Laos
Blinken criticizes China’s actions in the South China Sea

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has sharply criticized China’s actions. photo
© Tang Chhin Sothy/Pool AFP/AP/dpa
The South China Sea dispute between China and other neighbors was a main topic at the Asean summit. US Secretary of State Blinken took a clear position. Many want a “code of conduct.”
Incidents continue to occur in the disputed South China Sea, especially between the Chinese coast guard and Philippine ships. The Chinese regularly use water cannons; Collisions have also occurred. Recently, the Chinese Air Force also held dangerous maneuvers in the region and fired flares near a Philippine Air Force transport plane.
China claims practically the entire South China Sea as its own. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei reject the claims, citing a 2016 UN arbitration court ruling. However, China does not recognize the ruling. The resource-rich area is also considered an important global trade route.
“Harassment and intimidation”
On Thursday, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called on the ten Asean member countries as well as the government in Beijing to accelerate negotiations on a planned “code of conduct” for the South China Sea. It is regrettable that the situation remains tense and unchanged, he emphasized. “We continue to face harassment and intimidation.” Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong warned this week that an incident could easily escalate into a conflict.
Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as well as UN Secretary-General António Guterres also took part in the talks in Laos. According to the US Secretary of State, there was no direct meeting between Blinken and Lavrov.
The Asean summit participants all made it clear that the war in Ukraine had to end. Many countries in the Indo-Pacific are also concerned about the war of aggression: They know that such an action, if it goes unpunished, is a signal to aggressors around the world that “the hunting season has opened,” said Blinken.