Asean defense ministers have voiced their concerns over the law that China passed and implemented this year, authorizing its Coast Guard to fire at vessels even in maritime territories that it disputes in support of its expansive claims in the South China Sea.
The defense ministers raised the issue during commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the Asean Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) at the 15th ADMM and 8th ADMM-Plus held virtually on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to a news statement from Department of National Defense at Camp Aguinaldo.
“On the South China Sea/West Philippine Sea [SCS/WPS], some Plus countries expressed concern on the ambiguous application of the Chinese Coast Guard Law [CGL], while stressing the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight and the early conclusion of a substantive Code of Conduct [COC],” the statement released through spokesman Arsenio “Popong” Andolong said.
Beijing passed the CGL in January this year and took effect a month later. Among others, it authorizes its Coast Guard to fire at ships and individuals who conduct economic activities even in waters that are subjects of its claims.
The same law also gave the Chinese Coast Guard to demolish any structures in territories that it claimed.
The ADMM-Plus also shared its common regional security challenges such as terrorism, violent extremism, border control, cyber security, maritime security, and climate change.
“On recent developments on regional and international issues, the ADMM-Plus exchanged views on the military coup in Myanmar, situation in the Korean peninsula, importance of the Indo-Pacific region, and major power competition,” Andolong said.
Andolong added that the 8th ADMM-Plus, which include China, also adopted the “Bandar Seri Begawan Declaration of the ADMM-Plus Defence Ministers on Promoting A Future-Ready, Peaceful and Prosperous Asean,” which endeavors to strengthen cooperation among the ADMM-Plus member-states and build on the practical cooperation under the ADMM-Plus EWGs to address security challenges for the collective benefit of forging a future-ready Asean.
During the 15th ADMM meeting, nine new initiatives and documents were approved, adopted, and noted by the Asean defense ministers. Notably, as coauthors, the Philippines and Singapore endorsed the Concept Paper on the ADMM’s External Engagements, which reaffirms the Asean Centrality within the ADMM and the ADMM-Plus regarding engagements with Asean’s friends and dialogue partners.
The ADMM noted the “Post-Implementation Review” (PIR) of the Annualization of the ADMM-Plus and agreed to continue the annual conduct of the ADMM-Plus.
The ADMM is the highest defense consultative and cooperative mechanism among Asean defense establishments, while the ADMM-Plus is the ADMM’s platform to meet with the defense ministers of eight plus countries namely: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, and United States of America.
At the sidelines of the 15th ADMM, the Asean defense ministers met with Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe during the Asean-China Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting on Tuesday where the 30 years of Asean-China Dialogue Partnership was highlighted.
“The Philippines, as the Country Coordinator for Asean-China Dialogue Partnership from 2018 to 2021, expressed its appreciation to China for organizing several important initiatives and proposals during its coordinatorship and looked forward to advancing cooperation with China, particularly in the ADMM-Plus and its Experts’ Working Groups [EWGs]. The meeting also welcomed Myanmar as the incoming Country Coordinator for Asean-China Dialogue Relations from 2021-2024,” Andolong said.
Image credits: AP