MALAYSIA: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell urges all Asian parties to resolve maritime sovereignty disputes in peace

Record ID: 187191

  • Title: MALAYSIA: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell urges all Asian parties to resolve maritime sovereignty disputes in peace
  • Date: 13th December 2012
  • Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (DECEMBER 13, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN MALAYSIA U.S. FLAG U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS, KURT CAMPBELL, WALKING IN TO PRESS CONFERENCE U.S. NATIONAL EMBLEM CAMPBELL AND REPORTERS SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS, KURT CAMPBELL SAYING: "The security treaty between the United States and Japan applies to any provocative set of circumstances. However we are encouraging all sides to take appropriate steps so that there will be no misunderstandings, no miscalculations that could trigger an environment that would be antithetical to the maintenance of peace and stability." REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF STATE FOR ASIAN AND PACIFIC AFFAIRS, KURT CAMPBELL SAYING: "Asia plays a role currently as the backbone in the global economy and we cannot afford provocative steps to undermine the peace and stability on which the remarkable prosperity of Asia and the wider world is based. Ultimately, we believe that the best way forward is for a code of conduct between ASEAN and China." CAMPBELL / REPORTERS SITTING KUALA LUMPUR STREET KUALA LUMPUR'S PETRONAS TOWERS
  • Embargoed: 28th December 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Malaysia
  • Country: Malaysia
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA64Z6J9F91WU6ABJFFOF0BL2Y1
  • Story Text: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell called for cooler heads between Japan and China after a Chinese government plane entered disputed islets in the East China Sea on Thursday (December 13).
    When Japan spotted the plane it scrambled fighter jets, escalating tension between Asia's two biggest economies.
    Campbell, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Asian and Pacific Affairs, was asked about the incident while visiting Malaysia.
    "The security treaty between the United States and Japan applies to any provocative set of circumstances. However we are encouraging all sides to take appropriate steps so that there will be no misunderstandings, no miscalculations that could trigger an environment that would be antithetical to the maintenance of peace and stability," he said.
    Japan protested to China over the incident but China brushed the complaint off saying the flight by the Chinese aircraft was "completely normal".
    Sino-Japanese relations took a tumble in September after Japan bought the tiny islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, from a private Japanese owner.
    Patrol ships from the two countries have been shadowing each other since then in a standoff that has raised concern that a collision could escalate into a clash. Thursday's incident was the first time both sides used aircraft in the dispute.
    Maritime sovereignty disputes among China and other Asian countries has been the biggest political issue in the region.
    China also claims ownership over a mineral rich waters to its south, namely the South China Sea.
    Other claimants, such as the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei, have been urging the Chinese government to engage talks with the regional bloc, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to draft a code of conduct, but this is rejected by China, which prefers to discuss separately with each claimant.
    Campbell said U.S. supported the ASEAN nations' stance and hoped China will sign up to this approach to finalise a code of conduct as soon as possible.
    "Asia plays a role currently as the backbone in global economy and we cannot afford provocative steps to undermine the peace and stability on which the remarkable prosperity of Asia and the wider world is based. Ultimately, we believe that the best way is for a code of conduct between ASEAN and China," said Campbell.
    U.S. President Barack Obama also urged Asian leaders during a visit to the region in November to rein in tension over territorial disputes.
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