Plan for summit on UN sidelines to seek ways 'to talk sense' into China, Philippines envoy says
Updates from paragraph two with quotes and details
By David Brunnstrom
WASHINGTON, Sept 10 (Reuters) -A summit of at least 20 nations is planned on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly this month to seek ways "to talk some sense" into China over its confrontation with the Philippines in the South China Sea, Manila's Washington envoy said on Tuesday.
"The more countries band together and give a message to China that what they're doing is definitely not on the right side of history, then we have a better than even chance that they will not make that wrong move that we're all fearing," the envoy, Jose Manuel Romualdez said.
Romualdez did not elaborate on plans for the summit, which he said would take place on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly in New York in the week of Sept. 22.
The United States is Manila's key ally. Its State Department and the White House did not immediately respond when asked about the plan.
The Philippines and China have exchanged accusations of intentionally ramming coast guard vessels in the disputed South China Sea in recent months, including a violent clash in June in which a Filipino sailor lost a finger.
Chinese state media on Monday called on the Philippines to "seriously consider the future" of a relationship "at a crossroads".
Referring to Chinese pressure, Romualdez told Washington's New America think tank the Philippines "has never faced this type of challenge since World War Two."
"As of today, they have about 238 (Chinese) ships or militia vessels swarming in the ... area, and they continue to do this day in and day out," he said.
The aim of the summit would be for participants to join with the Philippines in "finding ways to be able to talk some sense into the PRC," he said, using the initials of the People's Republic of China.
Last week, Australia and Japan criticized China for what they called "dangerous and coercive" acts against the Philippines in the South China Sea, and India and Singapore called for a peaceful resolution of all disputes there without use of force.
Romualdez said that while trying to use diplomacy to have a "civil conversation with our neighbors in the north, we also have to continue to try and find ways and means to be able to strengthen our alliances."
The aim was "to give a signal to China, that we're not just one but we're many that are not happy with what they're doing today in the Indo-Pacific region."
Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Stephen Coates
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
