Letters to the Editor: The South China Sea issue

Dear Editor,

I READ with great confusion and disagreement over a recent editorial published by your esteemed paper. The topic was the South China Sea claims and the need for a Code of Conduct.

While I agree the upcoming ASEAN Summit should not be "hijacked" to assert each contesting party's claim, I find the statement that the claims themselves are "NOT an ASEAN Summit issue" completely absurd. Though ASEAN may have equally important items it has to address on its agenda for this year such as how to realise a single, regional economic community by 2015 it cannot do so if the political stability and security over the most prominent waters in ASEAN is not guaranteed.

The South China Sea, despite its name, is literally at the heart of ASEAN; in terms of geographical location and with respect to regional connectivity. ASEAN cannot simply be oblivious to the fate of one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, especially when it is located just at the regional grouping's doorstep.

I firmly believe that an ASEAN mechanism should be an integral part of the process to resolve the claims issue. This is not only in taking account that four ASEAN member states are involved in the disputes, but also respecting China as a powerful economic, political and military force in the region.

ASEAN has walked a long road of experience as a partner to China. Then, why should it not be ASEAN again that is at the forefront of negotiations with the Asian giant? And should the argument be that ASEAN will not be united and members support one another on this issue, then what hope does that hold for the future of this so-called community?

Abang Di

Jerudong

Dipetik dari - The Brunei Times