BEIJING: China’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has emphasized the importance of resolving maritime disputes through diplomatic negotiations and has warned against “camp” confrontations in the midst of escalating tensions in the South China Sea. Although Wang did not explicitly mention the United States, his remarks come days before an expected meeting between the leaders of China and the United States.
Recent complaints from countries such as the Philippines, Japan, and the United States have highlighted concerns over what they perceive as growing Chinese assertiveness in the South China Sea. China claims a significant portion of the region as part of its territory, a stance that is strongly disputed by several coastal nations.
Last month, China and the Philippines exchanged accusations following a collision in the South China Sea when Chinese vessels blocked the passage of Philippine ships. China contended that the Philippine ships were “trespassing” on Chinese territory as they attempted to deliver supplies to Philippine troops stationed on a disputed shoal located in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone.
The tense encounters between China and the Philippines at the contested shoal have prompted Japan to call for trilateral cooperation with the United States in assisting Manila to enhance its security capabilities.
Wang Yi stated at a maritime governance symposium in Hainan, “Historical maritime disputes should be resolved through friendly consultation between direct parties, and maritime camp confrontations and zero-sum games should be resisted.” Notably, he did not specifically identify any nation in his remarks.
He also emphasized the need for improving crisis communication mechanisms, although he refrained from directly referring to the recent incidents.
China has frequently criticized what it labels as “cliques” among nations, particularly those with no direct territorial claims in regional disputes. Beijing has been critical of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy, which characterizes China as an aggressor in the region, including the South China Sea, and as undermining international maritime law, including the freedom of navigation.
Wang’s recent remarks exhibited a more conciliatory tone and refrained from overt references to the United States, reflecting broader efforts to ease tensions between the two countries. This comes ahead of an anticipated meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden on the sidelines of an upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum.
Wang affirmed China’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations under international maritime laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), though he did not directly address Washington’s stance. Previously, Wang had criticized a “certain major country” for refusing to join UNCLOS, an agreement ratified by over 160 countries. The United States, while acknowledging UNCLOS, has yet to ratify it.
