EDGEDAVAO VOL. 6 ISSUE 30 • FRIDAY - SATURDAY, APRIL 26-27, 2013
NATION/WORlD11
ASEAN leaders work to defuse China tensions S
OUThEAST Asian leaders wrapped up a summit on Thursday dominated by efforts to defuse tensions over the South China Sea and deepen economic links throughout the region. The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) endured deep divisions last year over how to handle rows with China over the sea, and leaders have been focused at this week’s talks in Brunei on rebuilding unity. Philippine President Benigno Aquino said after an initial gathering on Wednesday night -- a dinner hosted by Brunei’s Sultan hassanal Bolkiah -- that the leaders had succeeded in finding common ground on the flashpoint issue. “Everybody is interested in having a peaceful resolution and also in voicing... concern that there have been increasing disputes,” Aquino told reporters. China says it has sovereign rights to nearly all of the South China Sea. But ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan, also claim parts of the strategically vital and resource-rich body of water. The competing claims have for decades made the sea one of
Asia’s potential powderkegs for military conflict, and concerns have risen in recent years as China has become increasingly aggressive in staking its claim. Among the actions that have caused alarm were China’s occupying of a shoal close to the Philippines’ main island last year, and the deployment last month of Chinese naval ships to within 80 kilometres (50 miles) of Malaysia’s coast. however ASEAN, which for more than four decades has operated on a spirit of consensus, was divided last year as the Philippines and Vietnam failed to persuade the bloc to send a united message of concern to China Cambodia, a close Chinese ally that held the rotating chair of ASEAN in 2012, blocked the efforts of the Philippines and Vietnam. Aquino said on Wednesday night that he was pleased Brunei had made the South China Sea issue a top priority at this week’s summit, and for future talks throughout the year. “We should really be thankful that the whole of the ASEAN is willing to discuss this instead of putting it on the backburner,” Aquino said. The leaders had a “retreat” session at the
Leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) attend lunch in Bandar Seri Begawan on April 25, 2013. Southeast Asia’s efforts to create a single market by 2015 are in their hardest phase owing to protec-
tionist reflexes on sensitive sectors, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said.
Brunei prime minister’s office on Thursday morning, which was to be followed by a lunch. The Philippines and Vietnam have been pushing for ASEAN to try and pressure China into agreeing to a long-awaited and legally binding code of conduct for the sea. But China, which prefers to negotiate directly with individual countries rather than a
united ASEAN bloc, has refused to begin meaningful talks on the code. Southeast Asian diplomats in Brunei said they did not expect progress on the code, first proposed in 2002, anytime soon. But Aquino said he was nevertheless happy ASEAN was now at least united in trying to ensure the disputes did not “become bloody”. “So there is unity of
purpose and one can always be hopeful that that will lead to something more concrete,” he said. One of the other key issues on the agenda during the summit is pressing ahead with deeper economic integration within ASEAN, and other countries in the region. The bloc is aiming to create a single market for the 10 Southeast
convoy of Gingoog City Mayor Ruth Guingona, wounding the official and killing two of her security escorts. “you want to challenge us? Go ahead, make our day,” Lacierda said in a Palace press briefing. This, as he slammed the guerilla arm of the National Democratic Front for resorting to banditry and for making farce of the elections by using it to raise funds. “They (communist rebels) have been reduced to a bandit group, and it makes no sense for them to continue their nefarious ways, and just help us,” Lacierda said. The Cabinet official said the NPA is taking on “soft targets” or poorly armed groups and individuals. “They are going to the house of policemen, trying to grab mga baril (guns), or they are trying to extort money from the telcos or from a cell site,” he said. Lacierda also hit the rebel group’s solicitation of fees
for “permit to campaign” in guerilla areas. “[W]e’re asking local politicians: Do not succumb to this,” the presidential spokesperson said. he added that paying such fees and so-called “revolutionary taxes” will make politicians “subject to [NPA] whims, subject to their mercy.” he further assured leaders, including candidates for the 2013 local and national elections: “There’s only one Armed Forces and we will protect you.” Lacierda nonetheless emphasized the government’s commitment to resume peace negotiations with NDFP, noting that the government wants guerillas to “come down from the mountains.” “We have committed to talk to them they have refused to talk to us,” the Cabinet official said. “We have always maintained that we are committed to resolving the--all internal armed conflicts,” he added. [yahoo!]
OUTh Korea on Thursday offered North Korea formal talks on suspended operations at their joint Kaesong industrial zone, and hinted it might pull out entirely if Pyongyang declines. The South said it was offering working-level talks to resolve the impasse over Kaesong, a rare symbol of inter-Korean cooperation that has become the most notable victim of escalating military tensions on the Korean peninsula. But the offer came with an ultimatum of unspecified “significant measures” if Pyongyang fails to accept the proposal within 24 hours. “There is no change on our stance to support the stable operation and improvement” of Kaesong, Unification Ministry Spokesman Kim hyungSeok said. “But we cannot let this situation continue as it is,” he added. “If North Korea rejects our proposal... we
Asian countries and its 600 million people -- known as the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) -- by 2015. More than three quarters of the blueprint for the AEC has been agreed upon but Aquino and others involved said the most difficult areas were yet to be addressed. Analysts say the 2015 deadline is unlikely to be met. [AFP]
Lacierda challenges NPA rebels: ‘Make my day’ S. Korea delivers talks ultimatum to North
M
ALACANANG has challenged communist rebels to face the government’s armed forces instead of targeting politicians and civilians. A 500-strong Marine
LACiErDA
battalion is being moved to the 4th Infantry Division covering Misamis Oriental, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said. The move is in response to the New People’s Army attack on the
S
have no choice but to take significant measures.” Kim did not elaborate, but the ultimatum suggested South Korea was considering a permanent withdrawal from the zone, which normally employs 53,000 workers at 123 South Korean companies. The talks proposed by Seoul would be between the respective heads of the North and South management committees that oversee Kaesong operations. The proposal came a day after Seoul announced pan-governmental action to help firms with factories in Kaesong deal with liquidity problems caused by lost production and the cancellation of orders. Established in 2004 and lying 10 kilometres (six miles) inside North Korea, Kaesong is a crucial hard currency source for the impoverished North, through taxes and revenues, and from its cut of the workers’ wages. [AFP]