ASEAN working lunch in New York
President Obama and Philippines President Benigno Aquino III attend the ASEAN leaders working luncheon at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York, where world leaders are gathered for the U.N. General Assembly. (Tim Sloan, AFP/Getty Images / September 23, 2010)

By Christi Parsons and Paul Richter, Los Angeles Times
September 25, 2010
 

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Reporting from the United Nations — 
President Obama and leaders from Southeast Asia on Friday called for peaceful resolution of disputes between China and its maritime neighbors, a sign that the United States intends to continue its security role in the region.

Obama and the 10-member Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations issued a joint statement affirming the importance of maritime security and law, as well as the "peaceful settlement of disputes."

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session, the president met earlier with leaders of some southeast Asian nations who had pushed for a statement opposing the "use or threat of force" by any country trying to enforce claims in the South China Sea.

Nevertheless, the softened statement was clearly directed at China, which has been involved in disputes with smaller neighbors over its claims to sections of the South China Sea that are valued for oil, gas and fishing.

China has urged the United States to stay clear of the issue, and expressed its unhappiness in July when Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton recommended that the smaller countries work together with Beijing to settle their disputes.

The ASEAN group, which includes Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, has been eager for the United States to take a position, and to affirm that it will continue to extend its security umbrella. Vietnam, which may have tangled most often with China on the sovereignty issue, has been most eager for the U.S. statement, diplomats said.

But the message comes at a delicate moment.

China has been embroiled in a dispute over Japan's imprisonment of a Chinese fishing boat captain captured Sept. 8 by Japanese ships in disputed waters. The captain was released early Saturday.

Obama complained to Chinese officials Thursday that they had failed to do enough to allow the value of the Chinese currency to appreciate against the dollar, a persistent point of friction between the two powers.

Given the sensitivities on all sides, ASEAN officials wanted the message to be nuanced, said Ernest Bower, a specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

"They're a little nervous about the context in New York," he said. Bower added that although they had advance notice of the statement, he thought "the Chinese will still be provoked by it."

During his meeting this week with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, Obama underscored the importance of a peaceful resolution to the disputes, as well as the United States' interest in freedom of navigation in that area.

A White House official said the United States does not wish to get in the middle of the regional disputes, although the administration has offered to help the parties reach a solution.
cparsons@latimes.com, paul.richter@latimes.com,