US respects ASEAN’s handling on South China Sea: Ambassador

3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Ambassador of the United States to ASEAN Kevin Kim said that the US understands and respects ASEAN functions in handling disputes in the South China Sea.

“The (US) administration understands and respects how ASEAN functions as an institution,” said Kim in a closed discussion with the media here on Friday.

Regarding the dispute in the South China Sea, he stressed that the US is aware of the ongoing discussions between ASEAN member states and China.

He believes that ASEAN member states will form a consensus based on their respective positions among the 11 countries as a group, and they will negotiate with China as a whole, which means a consensus must be reached.

“We respect that consensus-driven process. Fundamentally, it is the nations and the peoples of Southeast Asia that will have to manage these problems or manage these issues for eternity,” Kim stated.

Geography, he said, is an immutable fact of politics that can’t be changed.

From the US’ perspective, similar sentiments have been echoed by other countries in the region — Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand — is that any agreement must not undermine the interests of the United States or other third-party interests that also have a stake in the South China Sea.

He said that fundamentally, these are vital sea lanes on which global economy depends.

“We don’t think any single country should have the ability to deny access,” he added.

Kim also emphasized, as US State Secretary Marco Rubio reiterated, that the US will continue to uphold its obligations under the agreements with the Philippines and the South China Sea.

The Ambassador further emphasized that US will continue to sail in international waters as well, as it has done for a long time since freedom of navigation is a basic right that every country has.

“We see what happens when a single country attempts to deny that right to other countries. And it’s something that we’re going to continue to uphold,” Kim continued.

He also reiterated that the US also upholds the principles underpinned by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the 10th anniversary of the South China Sea Arbitral Tribunal ruling.