Asian countries should end disputes peacefully says Robert Gates

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Monday that Asian sea disputes should be resolved peacefully through negotiations, words meant as reassurance after a series of maritime incidents involving China rattled nerves.

Gates said regional claims over disputed maritime territory should be resolved in accordance with international laws of the sea.
"We don't take sides in this," Gates said in Hanoi. "We don't have any territorial claims of our own."

The comments come as defense ministers from Southeast Asia meet with their counterparts from eight other countries in Vietnam. Gates was expected to meet with a high-ranking Chinese military official later Monday, ending a freeze on military exchanges after China broke off contacts to protest a U.S. arms package for Taiwan.

The heating of territorial disputes in Asian waters follows a series of aggressive moves by China on the high seas. The latest spat erupted last month with Japan over a collision between a Chinese trawler and two Japanese patrol boats off disputed islands in the East China Sea claimed by both countries.

:flag_jap: Japan detained the Chinese boat captain, enraging Beijing. He was eventually released, and last week the two countries agreed to resume high-level talks, but each continues to claim the territory.
Japanese Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa met with his Chinese counterpart in Hanoi on Monday and asked for cooperation on the creation of a communication system that could be used following maritime accidents, according to Japan's Defense Ministry.

"All these disputes should be resolved peacefully and through arbitration and negotiation," Gates said, adding that in the case between Japan and China, the U.S. would fulfill treaty obligations to support Japan.

Separately, China would not confirm that a port call by a Japanese naval training ship scheduled for later this month would take place. The Chinese minister only responded by saying "I've heard about that," neither affirming nor rejecting the request, the ministry official said.

"Even though we were not fully prepared for talks, the fact that the defense ministers from the two countries could hold talks was a step forward," Kitazawa told reporters.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Defense Minister Phung Quang Thanh confirmed on the meeting's sidelines that China had ended another maritime incident on Sunday by releasing nine Vietnamese fishermen who were detained last month while operating in waters near the disputed Parcel islands in the South China Sea.

Last week, Vietnam demanded that the fishermen be released immediately without conditions. China had refused to send the sailors home until the captain paid a fine for having explosives aboard the boat. Vietnam denied the allegation, saying the boat was only carrying fishing equipment. Both countries, along with Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines, claim sovereignty over all or part of the islands.

So the question is, what do you all think could/would happen? You think anyone will start poppin' the big guns? :gatlinggun:

 

China doesn't have much legal ground to stand on. The maritime law they're relying on would mean Indonesia, Malaysia and the PI would also be part of China's territory.

But in that part of the world, might does mean right. I would expect a battle in the near future between the ASEAN nations vs PRC would not be out of the question, with Japan and the US being sucked into the fight.

 

That's what I'd say too..somethin's gonna happen..don't know when..only a matter of time..there's all these future speculations you always hear about if, and when.

 

Good point. And that is what the Chinese manueverings in this region really imply for us guys who live here (at least for those who actually care).
As for the Asean nations, China can swallow any one of us up. And the PROC government knows this and that's why it always insists on one-to-one talks regarding the issue.
I can't speak for the other countries of Asean, but I do know that the Philippines has no navy to speak of to deter the Chinese. As for the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty, its legs have been broken because the present Philippine laws bar foreign troops from combat operations. I concede that it might be repealed or changed once the shooting starts.
And what can the Philippine Air Force contribute? A single F-5B armed with AIM9-B Sidewinder missiles.
At least the Malaysians have at least two diesel electric subs for a show of force against the Chinese.
The only one with any sort of moxy to stand up against the Chinese would have to be the Vietnamese. They may not be as many but they still do have something to throw against any Chinese move.
It's a lengthy reply Syscom so I beg your indulgence. It's a topic that really rankles me, especially after the Chinese grabbed a few atolls from the PI and we essentially did nothing to throw them out several years ago. At present the Chinese have officially protested against the Philippines plan to repair its airstrip in the disputed area. And you know what? The repairs were halted, pending negotiations. ARGH!

 

latest update... China and Japan Leaders to (Try to) Improve Ties | Fool's Mountain: Blogging for China

 

I doubt China would be ready to start a war against some of its best commercials partners and loose billions. Same thing for Japan, I don't think it would be ready to jeopardize its national safety for few crumbs of the former empire.
as to the others ? ......
Conficius said (let's say he did ) "when two dogs fight for a bone, the third one will grab it"

 

You have a point, Skipper. But if we use history as a guide, France was a major trading partner of Germany in the 1930s and we all know what happened.