Wang rebukes Manila over provocations in meeting with ASEAN chief

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has lashed out at provocations and incidents created by the Philippines at sea during a meeting with Kao Kim Hourn, secretary‑general of ASEAN, in Manila on Tuesday.

Wang told Kao that the South China Sea is the common homeland of countries in the region and "should not become an obstacle to China–ASEAN relations".

Wang is in Manila to attend the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting on Wednesday.

He warned that "some forces within the Philippine military and police have deliberately engaged in provocations and created incidents at sea".

That "serves the interests of external forces, and jeopardizes the process of China-Philippines relations' improvement as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea", Wang said, adding that "countries in the region should remain highly vigilant".

China is willing to work with ASEAN to eliminate disruptive factors and accelerate consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, he said.

Beijing is also ready to jointly introduce a new narrative of peace, stability, cooperation and friendship in the South China Sea, and firmly keep the initiative on South China Sea issues in their own hands, he added.

In his remarks, Kao said that the ASEAN and China are neighbors that cannot be separated.

He noted that next year marks the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The ASEAN supports the "dual-track" approach, the acceleration of consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and efforts to make the South China Sea a sea of peace, cooperation and friendship, he added.

The ASEAN is willing to work with China to jointly safeguard the region's peace and stability and make contributions to the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region, he said.

zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn