Asean concerned about China's militarisation

Southeast Asian countries see China's installation of weapons systems in the South China Sea as "very unsettling" and have urged dialogue to stop an escalation of "recent developments", the Philippines said yesterday.

The region's foreign ministers were unanimous in their concern over China's militarisation of its artificial islands, but were confident a framework for a code of maritime conduct could be agreed with Beijing by June, Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay said.

Yasay did not say what developments provoked the concern, but said the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) hoped China and the United States would ensure peace and stability.

He said demilitarisation would be a key component of any Asean-China code of conduct, but it was too soon to say whether Beijing's dismantling of its weapons installations would be a prerequisite.

"The Asean members have been unanimous in their expression of concern about what they see as a militarisation of the region," Yasay told reporters after a ministers' retreat on the Philippine island of Boracay.

Referring to China's manmade islands in the Spratly archipelago, Yasay said Asean countries had "noticed, very unsettlingly, that China has installed weapons systems in these facilities that they have established, and they have expressed strong concern about this."

With the Philippines chairing the bloc this year, Yasay's comments signal a rare, firm position by a grouping that often struggles to achieve consensus, due to its contrasting opinions on how to respond to China's assertiveness.

Asean's statements of concern often avoid mentioning China by name. Much is at stake from upsetting China, as Asean members, to varying extents, are under its influence and need its trade, investment and tourists.

Regional geopolitics has become more uncertain since the election of US President Donald Trump, particularly over his administration's role in a region strongly courted by Washington during the "pivot" of predecessor Barack Obama.