Most members of bloc 'did not want ruling to feature in joint statement'

Most ASEAN countries did not want any mention of the ruling in an arbitration case brought by the Philippines against China to feature in a joint meeting statement, Chinese officials said on Monday.

The officials, attending the China-ASEAN foreign ministers meeting, said only one nation - believed to be the Philippines - mentioned the arbitration at the gathering in Laos.

Before the annual meeting, which started on Monday, figures from countries such as Japan had called publicly for countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to make the ruling part of the joint statement.

However, several Chinese delegation officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told China Daily that foreign ministers from several ASEAN members had taken a lead in expressing their stance of not taking a position and not taking sides over the arbitral case.

The 10 ASEAN ministers embarked on a range of meetings - including an informal one-ahead of their meeting with China early on Monday morning, one official said.

"No consensus was reached (on including the ruling in the China-ASEAN meeting statement). At the last minute, only one country mentioned the arbitration at the 10+1 meeting," the official said.

All the Chinese officials refused to name the country, which reportedly was the Philippines.

"This country also expressed a readiness for bilateral consultations on resolving (South China Sea disputes with China)," the official added.

The official also said: "Most ASEAN members hope to turn the page and have a fresh start. Manila has gone back to where it was three and a half years ago, before it initiated the arbitration."

According to the official, ASEAN countries are "not willing to tackle ASEAN's ties with China in a reckless manner".

Another official said that during the meeting in Laos some ASEAN members said the former Philippine administration led by Benigno Aquino had not consulted ASEAN when it sought compulsory arbitral proceedings in 2013.

"Then, after the ruling was made earlier this month, the Philippines asked ASEAN to repeat what the ruling says. The countries complained that this was unreasonable," the official added.

The official also said Monday's 10+1 meeting took place in "an amicable and friendly atmosphere", with more than 80 percent of the time spent on China-ASEAN cooperation.

"China has always made tangible efforts to advance cooperation with ASEAN, and has often avoided bragging. That is why few countries dare to pick on China's cooperation with ASEAN," he added.

While meeting with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida on Monday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi urged Japan "not to make mistakes again and again and keep pestering" over the South China Sea issue.

If Tokyo continued its high-profile engagement on the issue it would prove that it has ulterior motives, Wang added.

Kishida said Japan is ready to tackle differences properly.

zhangyunbi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 07/26/2016 page3)