Clinton urges countries to settle South China sea disputes 'without coercion'

In an indirect reference to China ,U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has urged countries around the South China Sea to settle their territorial disputes
"without coercion" .



U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi in Cambodia  at an ASEAN summit , amid the sharp differences within the Southeast Asian states  over recent disputes with Beijing as they attempted to agree a draft code of conduct for the flashpoint South China Sea.



The ASEAN countries are presenting their proposal to China at this week's conference in Cambodia's capital, though Beijing will probably want to water down any language that ties its hands.


"We believe the nations of the region should work collaboratively and diplomatically to resolve disputes without coercion, without intimidation, without threats, and without use of force," Clinton told the East Asia Summit meeting in Phnom Penh, according to a text released by the State Department.

The statement which will not go well down with China.
The Philippines is proposing  ASEAN to unite to propose to China a code based on a UN law on maritime  boundaries that would delineate the areas belonging to each country.On the contrary Beijing has said it is prepared to discuss a more limited code aimed at "building trust and deepening cooperation" but not one that settles the territorial disputes, which it wants to negotiate with each country separately.


Efforts to produce a code began 10 years ago, but ASEAN secretary general Surin Pitsuwan said nations were now engaging seriously and efforts were  being made to "move along".



The Obama administration pressed Beijing on Thursday to accept a code of conduct for resolving territorial disputes in the resource-rich South China Sea.

"Issues such as freedom of navigation and lawful exploitation of maritime resources often involve a wide region, and approaching them strictly bilaterally could be a recipe for confusion and even confrontation," Clinton said.

   Clinton raised the issue of freedom of navigation, the maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea

"The United States has no territorial claims there and we do not take sides in disputes about territorial or maritime boundaries," Clinton told foreign ministers gathered in Cambodia's capital.


While Foreign ministers at a summit  of ASEAN wrangled over whether to include a reference in their joint statement to recent rows pitting China against  Vietnam and the Philippines.

Several Asian governments have expressed concern about China’s expansive maritime claims. Tensions have escalated  in recent months, with a standoff between Chinese and Philippine ships and sharp disagreements between China and Vietnam.
Strong protests were witnessed in Vietnam over Chinese ships in South China Sea.
  
The Philippines wants the statement to mention a recent standoff over the Scarborough Shoal, which it claims, but summit organiser Cambodia, a staunch Chinese ally, has opposed Manila's proposal.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said diplomats were still attempting to reach a consensus.

"It's a consensus draft. It's a compromise text so no one will be 100 percent happy," he told   
ASEAN members and China held joint talks on the proposed South China Sea code of code -- which spells out rules of behaviour to prevent conflicts --amid disagreements over what it should include and how it should be implemented.



China slams 'preacher' Clinton



 The editorial in the ruling Communist Party's People's Daily hit back at US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton  for comments she made calling for greater democracy in Asia, describing her as a "preacher for human rights".

 The editorial in the People's Daily questioned US : "Who gave America the right to arrogantly criticise the status of democracy in Asia?".

In a speech in Mongolia which borders China, on Tuesday,Clinton urged Asian nations to embrace democracy and said she did not agree with arguments in some Asian countries that democracy was not suited to the region.

"This is the right time to talk about democracy in Asia,as many countries in this region grapple with the question of which model of governance best suits their society and circumstances," she said.

Clinton said reforms in Myanmar and the Philippines “stand in stark contrast to those governments that continue to resist reforms, that work around the  clock to restrict people’s access to ideas and information, to imprison them for expressing their views …”