July 28, 2024

During a series of meetings of foreign ministers of Southeast and East Asian countries in Vientiane, Laos, over the past few days, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated China's consistent stance on the South China Sea issue. Judging from the latest joint communique issued by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which emphasizes the importance of peace and stability in the South China Sea, the differences among ASEAN countries are gradually narrowing, and consensus is gradually expanding, experts said, noting that this is particularly evident in the shared belief that the situation should not be allowed to escalate in a way that would affect regional security and relations with China.

China also sent strong signals to the US regarding the South China Sea issue and the Indo-Pacific Strategy, urging it to stop inciting trouble, causing disturbances, and undermining maritime stability. The US-led Indo-Pacific Strategy exacerbates security dilemmas and runs counter to the long-term vision of peace and prosperity in the region.

Some experts believe the US intends to provoke a proxy war and incite a new Cold War in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the South China Sea. ASEAN countries should resist actions that disrupt regional peace and provoke bloc confrontations to ensure peace and stability in the region.

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