Government must back sea talks

Government must back sea talks

The threat of clashes has increased lately over China's claim it owns the South China Sea. A US navy task force led by the formidable aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is conducting "routine operations" in the area. Both Vietnam and Taiwan have copied China's construction of artificial islands with military facilities. Beijing has continued to fortify its new islands, with buildings believed capable of housing missiles. They would be the first land-based weapons in the Spratly Islands where international flashpoints and tensions increase almost by the day.

Amidst this, however, an unexpected neighbour is on the verge of joining the many countries showing force in the region. Indonesian President Joko Widodo says he will discuss the possibility of joint naval patrols with Australia in the South China Sea. Even the threat the Indonesian navy will begin patrols raises the danger level.

Mr Widodo was strongly irked late last year by a Chinese statement that referred to "overlapping claims" by Beijing and Jakarta over an area near Indonesia's Natuna Islands. The Indonesian navy quickly staged a large-scale military exercise in the Natuna region. Last week, the Indonesian president told The Australian newspaper he would discuss joint patrols with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. He called the proposal for such patrols "very important".

The Indonesian leader's desire to link with the Australian military is a sign of how seriously Jakarta takes the Chinese challenge. Just last month, the Indonesian military suspended all military cooperation with Australia after "insulting" materials were found at an Australian base. Australia's army chief was forced to apologise, but the classroom cooperation remains suspended.

The escalation shows how even small references and vague official statements can cause problems. While much of the world's attention focuses currently on US-China relations including the Spratly Islands region, many other nations are also directly involved. The island construction and enlargement by China has been opposed by virtually every other country that has spoken on the issue. But by enlarging and fortifying islands occupied by their troops, Vietnam and Taiwan also contribute directly to the danger of more violence in the disputed region.

The territorial disputes centred on China's highly questionable claim to ownership have split the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Several countries -- Laos and Cambodia among them -- have refused to side with Asean neighbours. The two countries have backed China at every turn. Thailand has mostly demurred, refusing to take the side of Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia in their claims, but also backing away from full support of Beijing's loud claims.

Thailand's proper role, as a nation with no disputed claim on the South China Sea, is to try to bring about peaceful resolution. In the past, Thailand has been a prime mover in attempts to bring China and Asean together to sign a truly binding, non-aggression pact. China and the Asean claimants see the problem as protecting the territory they claim.

Thailand, quite properly, believes the real problem is that escalating the disputes and conducting even the current low-level arms race will inevitably lead to violence, as it has in the past.

China has insisted it will never negotiate through Asean, but is willing to talk with each country holding rival claims on the South China Sea. This is subterfuge of a kind, since the initial goal is to assure peace in the region, setting the stage for possible territorial talks. Thailand must pursue efforts to get full Chinese agreement for a meaningful South China Sea code of conduct.

Editorial

Bangkok Post editorial column

These editorials represent Bangkok Post thoughts about current issues and situations.

Email : anchaleek@bangkokpost.co.th

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