Concerns over land reclamation

LANGKAWI: Asean today said it shared the serious concerns expressed by some regional leaders on land reclamation in the South China Sea, which has eroded trust and confidence and may undermine peace, security and stability in the area.
In this regard, Asean leaders want consultations on the Code of Conduct (CoC) in the South China Sea to be intensified to ensure its expeditious and effective establishment.
Underscoring the urgency to resolve the South China Sea question, foreign ministers of the 10-member grouping have been instructed to urgently address it constructively under the various Asean frameworks, such as Asean-China relations and the principle of peaceful co-existence.
This was contained in the chairman’s statement issued following the conclusion of the 26th Asean Summit, presided over by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi on Sunday and Monday respectively.
“We emphasise the need for all parties to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and not resort to threat or use of force,” it said.
Asean leaders urged the parties concerned to resolve their differences and disputes through peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Four Asean countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan and China have staked overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas.
The Kuala Lumpur/Langkawi summit also had its sights trained on the rise of radicalisation and violent extremism.
In this regard, regional leaders looked forward to the convening of the special Asean ministerial meeting on this matter in Kuala Lumpur to address this growing menace.
They also welcomed a move to institutionalise the Asean Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters to provide political impetus to regional cooperation on this matter.
The summit adopted three documents, namely the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on a People-Oriented, People-Centred Asean, Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates;
and the Declaration on Institutionalising the Resilience of Asean and its Communities and People to Disasters and Climate Change.
On migrant workers, the leaders tasked Asean labour ministers to continue working on the finalisation of the Asean Instrument on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers.
“We recognise the contribution of migrant workers to both the society and economy of Asean,” they said.
On the international front, Asean reiterated its support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people for an independent state and a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine existing side-by-side in peace.
On the deteriorating situation in Yemen, Asean leaders called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve differences through peaceful dialogue and return to the country’s roadmap for an inclusive democratic transition.
Touching on Timor-Leste, they expressed commitment to providing assistance for the country’s capacity-building process.
They welcomed Malaysia’s non-permanent membership on the United Nations Security Council for the 2015-2016 term, and expressed support for Asean’s future candidature to the council. – Bernama