MANILA, Philippines — Albeit hesitant to get entangled in the South China Sea issue, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) urged China to project itself as a "responsible major power" in the region.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said China has a "particular responsibility" as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to uphold international law, rules and norms despite differences with its smaller neighbors including the Philippines.
"I urge China to live up to those commitments also in dealing with China's neighbours when it comes to certain border disputes," Rusmussen said in a monthly press conference in Brussels late May.
He said that the 28-nation NATO is not involved in Asia, but its member states are concerned about the escalating tension in East Asia.
The United States and Germany, both NATO members, had expressed concern over the assertiveness of China in its extensive claims of the South and East China seas. The two countries have also backed the Philippines' move to international arbitration pursuant to the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, seeking resolution to the dispute.
The Philippines recently raised alarm over China's reclamation activities in Philippine-claimed waters and on disputed maritime features. The US called the act as disruptive of the status quo and an explicit violation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, a non-binding multilateral agreement among ASEAN members and China.
Rasmussen, a former prime minister of Denmark, said that all rival parties over the important waterway should all have recourse to "peaceful solutions" and "live up to their international commitments."
In January, Rasmussen said NATO had a "structured dialogue" with China on common interests such as counter-piracy efforts and in keeping sea lanes free and open.
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