PH, Vietnam may raise concern over sea disputes at Asean summit

BANGKOK, Thailand—The Philippines and Vietnam are expected to be more vocal in raising concerns over the South China Sea row in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit this weekend in Myanmar.

President Aquino and other Southeast Asian leaders are heading to Nay Pyi Taw for the summit on Saturday and Sunday amid fresh tensions in the resource-rich international waterway.

Mr. Aquino is departing for Myanmar Saturday afternoon in time for the dinner to be hosted by Myanmar President U Thein Sein for Asean leaders on that day.

Up for discussion during the summit plenary meeting are the following: progress in the implementation of the so-called Roadmap for an Asean Community, the initiative for Asean Integration Work Plan II, and the Master Plan on Asean Connectivity.

The agenda for the session called the “retreat” includes current regional and international issues.

Since the schedule is tight, Mr. Aquino has no bilateral meetings with other leaders, but the government is open to such meetings, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said.

Mr. Aquino and the other leaders would also meet with leaders of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly or AIPA; the representatives of the Civil Society Organizations, and representatives of the Asean Youth.

“We can expect that,’’ Jose said in a text message from Manila when asked if Hanoi and Manila would be more vocal on the conflicting claims to parts of the South China Sea in the face of new brushes with China.

Jose said Vietnam would “definitely” add its voice of concern over the dispute the two countries separately have with China.

He added that the 10-nation bloc was expected to issue at least a statement of concern.

“It will be strange if that [statement] will not come out. We can even move forward,’’ Jose told reporters on Wednesday, adding that a stronger statement could be worked out if possible.

Vietnam on Wednesday accused China of using water cannon and ramming eight of its ships in a standoff triggered by China’s parking of a giant oil rig in contested waters.

On the same day, Philippine police rounded up 11 Chinese fishermen caught poaching in waters around Half Moan Shoal in the West Philippine Sea, a part of the South China Sea that the Philippines maintains is part of its exclusive economic zone under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The planting of the oil rig off the disputed Paracel Islands is seen by observers as China’s way of testing the resolve of the United States in aiding its regional partners.

In a recent four-nation swing through Asia, US President Barack Obama vowed to protect Japan from attack, and reiterated his country’s “ironclad’’ commitment to defend the Philippines, citing US defense treaties with both countries.

With the fresh tensions, the territorial disputes become a more urgent issue for discussion at the leaders’ summit retreat on Sunday afternoon.