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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urged Southeast Asian nations to reconsider the deal with 24 Chinese companies recently sanctioned by Washington. These are companies that the United States considers involved in illegal construction on islands used by China to “intimidate” the countries of the South China Sea.
The top US diplomat urged countries not to let China dominate and affirmed that the United States would support the countries of the region. According to the Associated Press, Foreign Minister Pompeo said China does not respect the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity set out in the ASEAN Charter.
Also on the East Sea, at the 10th East Asian Foreign Ministers (EAS) Summit held online the evening of 9 September, the US State Department said that Mr. Pompeo and ministers Foreign Relations of ASEAN countries and many other countries. Another expressed concern about China’s “aggressive actions” in these strategic waters.
During the meeting, Pompeo reaffirmed that, based on the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling on the South China Sea dispute between the Philippines and China, the US considers that most of Beijing’s claims in the Sea of South China are not France.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attended and spoke at the ASEAN-US Foreign Ministers Meeting online on September 10 Photo: VNA
For his part, at the previous ASEAN-Chinese Foreign Ministers Meeting on September 9, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the United States was directly interfering in territorial and maritime disputes at sea. . Orient for its own political needs, at the same time accusing the United States of promoting militarization in the South China Sea.
According to China International Television (CGTN), Wang said the United States is undermining the efforts of China and ASEAN countries to negotiate disputes and incite countries to confront each other. Mr. Vuong also stressed that the South China Sea is not a geopolitical setting and urged the United States to “respect the wishes of the countries in the region rather than create tension for its own interests.” However, Wang said China was willing to contact and dialogue with the United States.
On the same day, the Chinese side called for an early conclusion of the negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) with ASEAN. According to Japan’s Kyodo news agency, observers said easing tensions with ASEAN countries on the East Sea issue is a way for Chinese President Xi Jinping to reduce US influence in important maritime routes. is.
According to Reuters, foreign ministers attending the meeting are expected to seek cooperation to combat global threats and try to reduce tensions between the world’s two major economies. Commenting that countries in the region have no intention of taking sides, Collin Koh of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) said that ASEAN countries will try to balance the relationship. Get in touch with the two economic powerhouses by discussing Covid-19 with Beijing about the pandemic vaccine and talking to Washington about increasing US investments.
ASEAN strengthens relationships with its partners
On September 10, within the framework of the 53rd Meeting of ASEAN Foreign Ministers, the ASEAN – US, ASEAN – Canada foreign ministers’ conferences were held. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh led the Vietnamese delegation to these conferences.
At the ASEAN-US Foreign Ministers Meeting, countries highly appreciated the ASEAN-US strategic partnership, considering it as an important factor in ensuring peace, stability and development. in the region, and welcomed the Mekong-United States partnership was established.
Speaking at the conference, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo stated that ASEAN’s successful building of the ASEAN community and playing a central role in the region is in accordance with the interests from United States. Pompeo also highly valued Vietnam’s proactive role as ASEAN 2020 president, especially in coordinating regional efforts with partners to effectively respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. Secretary Pompeo highly appreciated the ASEAN Indo-Pacific Outlook Paper (AOIP) and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to building and developing an ASEAN-US strategic partnership for peace. prosperity in the region on the basis of respect for mutual independence, sovereignty and cooperation for mutual benefit.
Addressing the international and regional situation, Secretary of State Pompeo reiterated the United States’ opinion on burning issues in international relations and hoped that ASEAN would strengthen solidarity, unity and positivity on related issues. to peace and stability, including the question of the East Sea.
At the end of the meeting, the ministers approved the action plan to implement the ASEAN-US Strategic Partnership. USA (2021-2025), with concrete actions to put cooperation into practice and on schedule. .
Meanwhile, the ASEAN-Canada Foreign Ministers Meeting highlighted the positive progress in dialogue relations between ASEAN and Canada in all fields. The two parties agreed to soon elevate their dialogue relationship to a Strategic Partnership.
On the same day, the ASEAN – Australia and ASEAN – New Zealand Foreign Ministers Meeting took place.
D. Ngoc
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