China, Vietnam Vow To Cool S. China Sea Tensions

China and Vietnam pledged to resolve a row over the strategic South China Sea, state media said Sunday, in a bid to ease tensions that prompted accusations of Chinese bullying in the region.

The apparent olive branch between the testy neighbours came as the United States and Philippines readied for joint naval exercises in the face of Chinese actions and after the US called for Beijing to help lower the temperature.

Several recent incidents have put the security spotlight on the South China Sea, a strategic and potentially oil-rich area where China has sometimes overlapping disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Recently, Vietnam carried out live-fire drills and the Philippines ordered the deployment of its naval flagship after accusing China of aggressive actions.

Representatives of China and Vietnam met in Beijing for weekend talks and agreed to resolve their maritime territorial disputes "peacefully", China's Xinhua news agency said Sunday.

They pledged to reach a "peaceful resolution of the maritime dispute between the two countries through negotiations and friendly consultations," it said.

The joint vow was made in a meeting Saturday between Chinese State Councillor Dai Bingguo, China's senior foreign-policy official, and Vietnamese Vice Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son.

They agreed to take measures to "safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea", work toward an agreement on addressing maritime disputes and seek speedy implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

The latter is a pact signed in 2002 between China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to prevent conflict until the myriad territorial disputes are resolved.

However, the report gave no details on specific steps to be taken or a timetable.

The United States on Saturday called for China to lower tensions through dialogue as they held talks on frictions in Southeast Asia.

Senior US official Kurt Campbell said he assured China during the talks in Hawaii that the United States welcomed a strong role for Beijing, which has warned Washington against involvement in the intensifying disputes.

"We want tensions to subside. We have a strong interest in the maintenance in peace and stability, and we are seeking a dialogue among all of the key players," said Campbell, assistant secretary of state of East Asian and Pacific affairs.

China has in the past rejected calls for multi-lateral talks on the South China Sea disputes, insisting on one-on-one contacts with other claimants.

Vietnam has accused Chinese ships of recently ramming an oil survey ship and cutting the exploration cables of another.

Meanwhile, Philippine President Benigno Aquino this month accused China of inciting at least seven incidents recently, including one in which a Chinese vessel allegedly opened fire on Filipino fishermen.

As tension climbed, China staged its own three days of naval exercises in the South China Sea.

The United States has stepped into the fray, pledging to support the defence of its longtime ally the Philippines and help modernise its cash-strapped military.

"We are determined and committed to supporting the defence of the Philippines," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said last week.

The two countries will hold 11 days of naval exercises starting Tuesday off the southwestern Philippines in a show of unity.

Vietnam and the United States also are to hold joint naval activities next month but they were long-planned and are unconnected to the recent tensions, the US Navy has said.

The South China Sea has long been considered one of Asia's potential military flashpoints due to the overlapping claims.

That fear has risen as China has worked to upgrade its military in recent years and made more strident declarations of its claims.

- By Agence France-Presse

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