China on charm offensive at Asean security forum
Beijing signals a more conciliatory approach with Asean in contrast to an aggressive push on sovereignty in the South China Sea in recent years
China turned on the charm at a regional security meeting this week, signalling a change in tone as President Xi Jinping seeks to counter a US push for more influence in Asia.
Beijing agreed during an Association of Southeast Asian Nations-hosted forum in Brunei to meet the 10-member group in September to develop rules to avoid conflict in waters marked by confrontations with nations such as Vietnam and the Philippines. China also expressed unity with the United States, South Korea and Japan to rid North Korea of nuclear weapons.
Those policy stances may reflect a more conciliatory approach after China's aggressive assertion of sovereignty in the South China Sea in recent years prompted neighbours to boost security links with the US. China is vying for influence in Asia, while the US conducts a pivot toward the region and supports allies like the Philippines.
"China has moved from the, 'Do little, engage little' form of engagement to, 'Do a lot, engage a lot," said Gary Li, a senior analyst at IHS Maritime in London. "The new dynamism signals a potential new era in Chinese relations with its neighbours, including Asean."
Foreign Minister Wang Yi , attending his first Asean meeting since Xi took the presidency in March, said China and Asean were "like members of one big family". He pledged to upgrade an Asean-China trade agreement and push ahead with talks on a regional economic partnership.
A year ago, China warned nations to avoid mentioning the territorial spats during Asean meetings and said it would begin talks on a code of conduct for the South China Sea only "when conditions are ripe".