Both the socialist neighbours claim a large portion of the contested watersway as their own, with parts also being claimed by Brunei, Taiwan, Malaysia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
Beijing:
China and Vietnam agreed Tuesday to “properly handle” territorial disputes in South China Sea. It was part of a diplomatic blitz organized by Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Both the socialist neighbours claim sweeping sovereignty in large parts of the contested watersway. Some of these waterways are also claimed to be part of Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines.
The South China Sea sees ship-borne trade worth trillions of US dollars each year. However, naval vessels from other Western nations regularly sail through the area, despite Beijing’s insistence that their claims have no legal basis.
According to a Chinese state news agency Xinhua, Xi and the other Chinese leaders met with Nguyen Phou Trong, Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary. The two had an “in-depth and candid exchange” of views about maritime issues.
According to the report, Beijing and Hanoi agreed to “properly handle maritime problems and contribute long-term peace to the region”.
They all agreed that “it is vital to properly manage differences to preserve peace in the South China Sea”, but they also pledged to “actively negociate temporary and transitional solutions that do not affect their respective positions”.
According to the report, they also agreed that they would work together to fight terrorism, combat transnational fraud, and reign in the illegal drug trade.
Beijing has been more assertive in asserting its territorial claims under Xi. It has built artificial islands, deployed coast guard and maritime militia patrols, harassed fishing vessels, and deployed coast guard and maritime police.
Xi hosts a host of world leaders in Beijing this week, his first diplomatic meetings since breaking a long-standing precedent last year to seal a third consecutive term for China’s leader.
His schedule includes a continuing visit from Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Shariff and one from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Friday. It will be the first formal European leader to China since the Covid-19 pandemic.
