Beijing should rethink its approach to South China Sea issues

BEIJING'S efforts last week to keep the region's attention away from its disputes in the South China Sea during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) meeting and the Asean-related talks in Kuala Lumpur were always going to fail.

Even before he arrived in Manila, US President Barack Obama made it clear that he was not going allow the issue to be pushed to one side. Thus, he called for bold steps to lower tension in the region and pressed for a halt to further reclamation work in the disputed areas. He repeated the same message at the Asean talks. As well, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other leaders made similar remarks regarding China's maritime claims and action in pursuit of those claims. Everyone noted that ensuring freedom of navigation in the waterway is important. About US$6 trillion in global trade pass through the waters.

Mr Obama also announced a small amount of military aid for some of the countries locked in disputes with China. Meanwhile, Mr Abe is considering a request from the Philippines for large coastguard ships to patrol the disputed region. Tokyo has also reached a deal with Manila on defence equipment and technology.