China, Indonesia FMs discuss South China Sea friction

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday held a phone conversation with his Indonesian counterpart Marty Natalegawa on China's current tensions with Vietnam in the South China Sea, state-run Xinhua News Agency reported. Wang briefed Natalegawa on the maritime friction between China and Vietnam, emphasizing a Chinese enterprise was carrying out normal oil drilling activities in China's Xisha (Paracel) Islands and its contiguous zone, activities which had started 10 years ago, the report said. "What the Vietnamese had done violated China's sovereignty and jurisdiction, ran counter to a series of international agreements safeguarding maritime security, and undermined peace and stability in the South China Sea," Wang was quoted as telling Natalegawa. "We urge the Vietnamese side to calm down, respect China's sovereignty and jurisdiction and not to attempt to further complicate and aggravate the situation," he said. China also hopes member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would clearly understand the basic facts of the incident, and together with China continue to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea region, Wang said. For his part, Natalegawa said China is an important pivot in maintaining regional peace, stability and prosperity, according to the report. "Indonesia takes no side on the sovereignty issue of the South China Sea, and is willing to work with China to safeguard regional peace and stability in the region," he said. Tensions are escalating between China and Vietnam as vessels of the two countries have clashed near a Chinese oil rig in the disputed area since last week. China is also engaged in territorial dispute with the Philippines, which detained 11 Chinese fisherman in the resource-rich South China Sea. At the 10-member ASEAN summit on Sunday, South East Asian leaders issued a joint statement calling for all parties involved to exercise self-restraint not to resort to threats or use of force, and to resolve disputes by peaceful means