US urges restraint as Aquino raises Spratlys oil probe to Asean By Mario J. Mallari 03/08/2011

US urges restraint as Aquino raises Spratlys oil probe to Asean

By Mario J. Mallari 03/08/2011

The United States called for restraint among claimant-countries of the disputed Spratly group islands on South China Sea following last Wednesday’s harassment of a Philippine exploratory vessel by Chinese patrol boats at the Reed Bank.

“We urge restraint on all sides. We urge that the South China Sea issue be resolved in the negotiating table,” US Ambassador Harry Thomas said during a chance interview at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City.

Thomas cited the 2002 Code of Conduct among claimant-countries for them to resolve the dispute through peaceful negotiations.

“We believe that the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) states and China should sit down according to the 2002 Code of Conduct,” he added..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20110308hed5.html