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South China Sea: China warns of external influence in lead-up to code of conduct talks
- Chinese foreign minister tells Thai counterpart that Beijing is willing to speed up discussions on regional rules
- Negotiations start this week, overshadowed by a clash over the Second Thomas Shoal
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Beijing is prepared to speed up talks with Asean on a long-delayed South China Sea code of conduct, the Chinese foreign minister said on the weekend while warning against external interference in the region.
“China is willing to work with Asean countries to ... make effective and meaningful regional rules that can make the South China Sea a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation,” Wang Yi told his Thai counterpart, Don Pramudwinai, in Beijing on Saturday.
A new round of talks is scheduled to get under way in the Philippine capital Manila on Tuesday.
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The Chinese foreign ministry quoted Don as saying he supported a peaceful and stable South China Sea.
Wang added that Asean countries should be “vigilant of powers outside of the region of stirring up bloc confrontation”, according to the ministry.
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He did not say who those powers were but Japan, the United States and Australia are planning to send military vessels to Manila for a drill in the South China Sea on Wednesday.
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