China on Monday lashed out at the ASEAN for backing Vietnam over tensions in the South China Sea sparked by Beijing’s deployment of an oil rig in disputed waters and asked the 10-member grouping to stay neutral to avoid “detrimental” impact on bilateral ties.
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong lei sharply criticised ASEAN Secretary-General le luong Minh’s comments that China has encroached upon Vietnam’s territorial integrity and violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
He said that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should not take sides in the South China Sea row. Minh had earlier said China should withdraw the rig to bring down the tensions.
Reacting Minh’s comments, Hong told a media briefing here that the current dispute is not a matter between China and the ASEAN. However, le has taken sides to advocate a particular country’s claims, sending out wrong signals, regardless of facts or the ASEAN’s position.
He said such actions are not something the secretary-general of the ASEAN should do, and are also detrimental to the development of China-ASEAN ties, he said.