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US Calls for ASEAN Action on Myanmar, Rejects China Maritime Claims

Reuters

   HANOI - The United States rejects China's"unlawful"maritime claims in
   the South China Sea and stands with Southeast Asian nations faced with
   Beijing's"coercion,"Secretary of State AntonyBlinkensaid on Wednesday.

   Addressing a video conference with foreign ministers from the
   Association of Southeast Nations (ASEAN),Blinkenalso said the United
   States has"deep concerns"about the situation in Myanmar and urged the
   group totake action to endviolence and restore democracy in the
   country.

   The meeting with the 10-member bloc is the first since the Biden
   administration took office in January and comes amid concerns among
   diplomats and others that Washington has not been paying sufficient
   attention to a region that is crucial to its regional strategy to
   counter an increasingly powerful China.

   ASEAN has been leading the main diplomatic effort on member country
   Myanmar since aFebruary1 coup plunged it into turmoil.

   Myanmar's junta has shown little sign of heeding a five-point ASEAN
   consensus, reached in April, which calls for an end to violence,
   politicaltalksand the naming of a regional special envoy.

   Blinkenurged ASEAN to take"immediate action"on the consensus and
   appoint a special envoy to Myanmar, State Department spokesperson Ned
   Price said in a statement.

   Blinkenasked for the release of all those"unjustly detained"in the
   country, and the restoration of Myanmar's democratic transition, Price
   said.

   Blinkenalsoemphasizedthe U.S. rejection of China's"unlawful maritime
   claims"in the South China Sea at the meeting and said Washington"stands
   with Southeast Asian claimants in the face of (Chinese) coercion,"Price
   said.

   China claims vast swathes of the disputed South China Sea via its
   unilaterally declared, U-shaped,"nine-dash line"which intersects with
   the exclusive economic zones of Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia
   and the Philippines, all ASEAN members.

   Trillions of dollars in annual trade flows through the disputed
   waterway.

   In addition to the South China Sea, the Mekong River has become a new
   front in U.S.-China rivalry, with Beijing overtaking Washington in both
   spending and influence over downstream countries at the mercy of its
   control of the river's waters.

   Price saidBlinken"pledged continued U.S. support for a free and open
   Mekong region under the Mekong-U.S. Partnership."

   Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said he hoped
   Wednesday's meetingsignalleda"refreshed commitment"to U.S. multilateral
   cooperation in the region.

   "We understand that multilateralism was not a key focus for the
   previous administration, but the Biden administration's embrace of
   multilateral cooperation is a welcome development,"Hishammuddin said,
   according to a copy of his delivered remarks.

   "This path is the only way forward to ensure stability, peace,
   prosperity and security for our region."

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