Meeting between Chinese, Vietnamese ministers canceled amid South China Sea tensions

MANILA (Reuters, Aug 8,2017):  A scheduled meeting between the foreign ministers of China and Vietnam on the sidelines of a regional gathering was canceled, Chinese Embassy officials said, amid growing tension between the two countries over the South China Sea.

Vietnam had held out for language that noted concern about island-building and criticized militarization in the South China Sea in the communique Sunday from foreign ministers of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Vietnam has emerged as the most vocal opponent of China’s claims in the waterway, through which trillions of dollars worth of cargo passes every year.

The embassy officials gave no reason for the cancellation of the meeting scheduled for Monday in Manila between Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Binh Minh.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry official said they had “already met.” Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry did not respond immediately to a request for comment.

State media in Vietnam said the ministers had held a “pull aside” meeting and exchanged views. It showed pictures of them shaking hands.

Although the language in the ASEAN communique reflected that of previous years, some countries pursuing deeper business ties with Beijing, such as Cambodia and the Philippines, had argued for dropping it.

Beijing is sensitive to even a veiled reference by ASEAN to its reclamation of seven reefs and its military installations in the South China Sea, which it claims in almost its entirety despite the competing claims of five other countries.

Tension has risen since June, when Vietnam infuriated China by drilling for oil and gas in an offshore block that Beijing disputes. The exploration was suspended after diplomatic protests from China.

After the ASEAN meeting, Wang had called out “some countries” who voiced concern over island reclamation.