US, Vietnam urge peace in South China Sea (18 Jun 2011)

US, Vietnam urge peace in South China Sea
Posted: 18 June 2011 0655 hrs

WASHINGTON - The United States and Vietnam on Friday jointly called for freedom of navigation and rejected the use of force in the South China Sea, amid simmering tensions between Beijing and its neighbours.

After talks in Washington, the two former war foes said that "the maintenance of peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is in the common interests of the international community."

"All territorial disputes in the South China Sea should be resolved through a collaborative, diplomatic process without coercion or the use of force," the two countries said in a joint statement.

Disputes have flared in recent weeks in the South China Sea, with Vietnam holding live-fire military exercises after accusing Chinese ships of ramming an oil survey ship and cutting the exploration cables of another one.

China staged its own three days of military exercises in the South China Sea, which state media said was aimed at boosting the country's offshore maritime patrol force.

"The US side reiterated that troubling incidents in recent months do not foster peace and stability within the region," the statement said.

It said that the incidents "raise concerns about maritime security, especially with regard to freedom of navigation, unimpeded economic development and commerce under lawful conditions, and respect for international law."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in remarks in July 2010 on a visit to Vietnam that were closely watched around Asia, said that the United States had a vital national interest in freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

China and Vietnam each claim the strategic Paracel Islands and Spratly archipelago.

China has myriad disputes in the potentially resource-rich sea with countries including Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. The Philippines said Friday that it was sending its aging naval flagship into the disputed waters.

Amid the tensions, China said Tuesday that it would not resort to the use of force in the South China Sea and urged other countries to "do more for peace and stability in the region."

- AFP /ls

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[TheQuocle1234]

China is a pirate on south china sea, they constantly kill and disturb vietnamese and phillipines fisher man. china is big country but very very bad behaviour. do not listen to what china said, just look at what they did.

[conchodaism]

@siuevan

ROFL V

"Vietnam killed thousand of fisherman from other countries":

OMG, poor kid! Where's your house? Can you remember your name? Hmm, why doctors could let this poor kid go out without supervision?

It's lucky that I bring my cell phone along. 9..1..1 911 Emergency! I've found an insane kid. He keeps mumbling nonsense things about Vietnam. Yes, I think he's Chinese and from a psychiatric hospital nearby.

STFU dumbass? You should replace the word "Vietnam" with "China". Insane

[BOHAliz]

@conchodaism Lol... why not accepted the fact today's land in vietnam iwas created by pirate 200 years . all your vietnamese needed to go back to china your vietnamese dont belong in Funan because all vietnam is Bac yue Chinese.and return the land back to the natives..your cold heart inhuman Vietnam try to kill . viet are the most war like people in recent history... vietnamese is criminal from China

[JinZin1986]

Truong Sa and Hoang Sa (Paracel and Spratly) have recorded history with Vietnam dating back several hundreds of years. Now, you disgusting Chinese pigs, get your dirty hands off my country's soil!

[Gokaiger203heroes]

LOVE VIETNAM AND USA, FUCK CHINA

[imchonny]

come on china your country is already larger than any other country in asia

[BAIYUE1]

@MrBennie73

Shame on Chinese invader

It is Southeast Asia sea

[baobeiduibuqi0101]

Fuck china ^^ !

[nerdmastermind]

@kaonimageilaozigun Cool Story Bro. Now go get yourself on the front lines once Vietnam and China fight each other. You're perfect for cannon fodder. Silly internet warrior : )

[kaonimageilaozigun]

viets monkey and maid republic monkey

china will show the new stealth aircraft in 2012.

it isnt J20

it will be a new stealth aircraft

in 2020,china will have 500 stealth aircraft and at least 4 Aircraft carrier battle groups

haha viets monkey waste you money on military. monkey have zero chance to win.