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14 Nations Back South China Sea Ruling; South Korea's Absence Draws Criticism Over Alleged 'Eye on China'

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • 14 countries reaffirmed the binding legal status of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling, condemning China's expansive claims.
  • South Korea's absence from the joint statement drew criticism from its own media, which questioned if it was due to appeasing China.
  • The US and its allies emphasized their commitment to a rules-based Indo-Pacific, warning against unilateral actions that threaten regional stability.

In a significant diplomatic move, 14 nations, including the United States, Japan, and the Philippines, issued a joint statement on July 12th, reaffirming the binding legal authority of the 2016 South China Sea arbitration ruling. This declaration directly challenges China's expansive territorial claims in the region, asserting that Beijing's assertions lack a legal basis.

We will reaffirm our firm commitment to maintaining a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific (FOIP) that is based on international law, peace, and stability.

— U.S. Department of StateThe U.S. Department of State's statement on July 11th, outlining the commitment to a rules-based Indo-Pacific.

The statement underscores a firm commitment to maintaining an Indo-Pacific region that is free, open, and governed by international law. The participating countries explicitly voiced opposition to any unilateral actions, whether through force or coercion, that could destabilize the region's peace and security. This collective stance highlights a growing international consensus against China's assertive maritime behavior.

The nine-dash line, which China claims as the basis for its South China Sea claims, has no legal basis.

— Permanent Court of ArbitrationThe ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016, which invalidated China's claims.

Notably, South Korea's decision to abstain from the joint statement has sparked internal debate and criticism. South Korean media outlets, such as The Chosun Ilbo, have questioned the government's stance, suggesting it might be influenced by a desire to avoid antagonizing China. This perceived deference has led to concerns that South Korea may be missing a critical window to address China's growing maritime influence, potentially following a path similar to the Philippines.

If South Korea does not take proactive measures early on, it may miss the golden opportunity to respond to China's maritime expansion and may end up following in the Philippines' footsteps.

— ExpertAn expert's warning to South Korea regarding China's maritime expansion, as cited in the article.

Experts warn that China's actions in the Yellow Sea, mirroring its tactics in the South China Sea, aim to assert control over what is a strategically vital area. The US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has documented instances of Chinese vessels harassing South Korean maritime survey ships. Analysts urge South Korea to take proactive measures to counter China's maritime expansion, emphasizing that the nation has more capacity to uphold international norms in the Indo-Pacific than it currently demonstrates.

South Korea can do far more than it is currently doing to uphold international norms in the Indo-Pacific.

— ScholarA scholar's assessment of South Korea's potential role in maintaining international norms, as reported by The Chosun Ilbo.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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