Like with the Philippines, countries that are firm in upholding the rule of law in the South China Sea are also working with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) so they will not lose their voice in terms of calling out aggressive actions in the waters and yield to economic pressure by the powerful.
On the third day of the Manila Dialogue on the South China Sea on Friday, Nov. 8, the ambassadors of Australia and Canada shared how their respective countries work with the regional bloc to help them leverage their own opinions on challenges in the waters.
Canberra’s envoy to Manila, HK Yu, said Australia launched a $64 million-project that would allow the country to enhance its maritime partnership with Southeast Asian countries.
The project was aimed at helping countries in the region understand the importance of protecting national interest and advancing interest through the exercise of their own agency as well as implementing useful and practical initiatives.
“What the ASEAN countries need to do is ensure you are exercising your agency clearly and strongly in order to advance your own national interests,” Yu said.
Canadian Ambassador David Hartman, meanwhile, said what Ottawa does is provide “the same level of messaging as we do to all our partners in the region.”
He said Canada is saying that it stands in unison “with those countries that are feeling a little bit more of economic pressure, economic coercion and these types of things.”
He said Canada is telling them “we will work together in a sort of unified manner, so they will feel supported and leveraging their own voices and leveraging their own independent opinion on challenges that are taking place in the South China Sea.
On the other hand, Washington’s envoy to Manila, MaryKay Carlson, said that aggressive actions in the South China Sea, particularly perpetrated by China, are not only targeting the Philippines, the most vocal fighter for sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea, but also other claimant states, such as Vietnam and Indonesia.
Carlson said Beijing took the approach of “might makes right,” as it continuously rejects international law and the Arbitral Ruling.
“Use of water cannons, ramming, and other aggressive actions demonstrate a disregard for lives and livelihoods,” Carlson said.
“This further demonstrates that the PRC is unwilling to abide by international law – which rejects the PRC’s expansive maritime claims and supports the sovereign rights of the ASEAN South China Sea coastal States,” she added.