Green Confederation backs China in South China Sea dispute

The Vanuatu Green Confederation (VGC) party has expressed support for the approach the People’s Republic of China has adopted to settle the disputes over the islands of the South China Sea that China calls Nanhai Zhudao in regards to the International Territorial Maritime Boundary.

In a statement issued in Port Vila by the President of the Vanuatu Green Confederation, Toara Daniel Kalo, the VGC says it “agrees with the People’s Republic of China that consultation and dialogue are paramount factors in international dispute resolution”.

“And VGC recommends that other concerned parties welcome mutual consultation in order to ensure peaceful settlement of the highly important issue,” the statement reads.

“The VGC stands by the fact that a real solution cannot be found without the Chinese Government and attempting a unilateral solution will never work as it would demonstrate ignorance of particular historical and geographical background of China with Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea islands).”

Vanuatu Green Confederation says it supports the Chinese Government’s 2006 declaration in “consideration of Article 298 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea whereby any third party settlement is subject to mutual consent prior to happening.”

It says VGC appreciates the Chinese Government’s approach and stresses that parties to this issue should always uphold the principles of friendly settlement of dispute through mutual consultation, in line with the Charter of the United Nations to ensure fast and peaceful dispute settlement.

In May this year, the Office of the Prime Minister, Charlot Salwai, issued a statement stating that the Government of Vanuatu supports China’s position over its claims in the South China Sea islands issue.

China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims over territory in the South China Sea.

Rival countries have wrangled over territory in the South China Sea for centuries, but tension has steadily increased in recent years.

China has backed its expansive claims with island-building and naval patrols.

The US says it does not take sides in territorial disputes, but has sent military ships and planes near disputed islands, calling them “freedom of navigation” operations to ensure access to key shipping and air routes, the BBC says in its July 12, 2016 report titled “Why is the South China Sea Contentious?”.

Both sides have accused each other of “militarising” the South China Sea, the BBC report says and that “There are fears that the area is becoming a flashpoint, with potentially serious global consequences.”

In February 2016, President Obama initiated the U.S.-ASEAN Summit at Sunnylands (US) for closer engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, says Wikipedia.

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea were a major topic, but its joint statement, the “Sunnylands Declaration”, did not name the South China Sea, instead calling for “respect of each nation’s sovereignty and for international law”, Wikipedia adds. Analysts believe it indicates divisions within the group on how to respond to China’s maritime strategy.

“In July 2016, an arbitral tribunal constituted under Annex VII of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ruled against China’s territorial claims in Philippines v. China. Although it is not enforceable China does not acknowledge the tribunal nor abide by its ruling, insisting that any resolution should be through bilateral negotiations with other claimants,” Wikipedia says.