Beijing’s top diplomat Wang Yi to visit Asean members amid South China Sea tensions
- Foreign Minister Wang Yi will travel to Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia on a trip aimed at boosting ‘strategic communication’
- It comes after a Chinese coastguard vessel fired water cannon at a Philippine supply ship in a disputed reef over the weekend
Wang begins the four-day Southeast Asia trip on Thursday, the foreign ministry said. It will be his first official trip as foreign minister since he was reappointed to the job on July 25.
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Philippines accuses Chinese coastguard of firing water cannons at its vessels in disputed waters
The foreign ministry said Wang’s trip was aimed at increasing “strategic communication” with Singapore, Malaysia and Cambodia to promote regional stability.
“China is also willing to work with the three countries … to promote economic recovery, maintain peace and tranquillity, and deepen exchanges and mutual learning, as well as making greater contributions to peace, stability, development and prosperity for the region and the world,” the ministry said in a statement.
The weekend incident has added to long-standing tensions between Beijing and Manila over the South China Sea that have worsened amid growing US-China rivalry in the region.
Beijing said it had taken necessary and professional action to safeguard its territorial integrity after Manila accused it of being “excessive and offensive”. China also lashed out at the US for “pointing fingers” after Washington issued a statement in support of Manila’s claim in the area.
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, but the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and Taipei have competing territorial claims.