The situation in Southeast Asia has been plaguing the world for months. In November 2020, it was reported that the United States advised China to avoid the use of violent military force against Taiwan. However, this has not seemed to have an impact on China’s actions, as they have looked towards the annexation of Taiwan. Many countries have expressed their opinions over this issue, mainly stating that they would prefer to have all actions remain peaceful.
“We strongly believe in adhering to the desires of both the United States and China through diplomatic measures that ease tension in the region,” the representative of the Philippines said.
For the past decade, the South China Sea crisis has been one of major discussions in the global trade market. The South China Sea dispute involves both the island and maritime claims by everlasting sovereign states within the region, namely Brunei, The People’s Republic of China, The Republic of China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. An estimated $3.37 trillion worth of global trade passes through the South China Sea annually. This accounts for a third of the global maritime trade. 80 percent of China’s energy imports and 39.5 percent of China’s total trade passes through the South China Sea.
“The main conflict, the South China Sea crisis, has caused the nation of the Philippines much political and economic stress,” the representative from the Philippines also said.
Various nations, including the Philippines, have endured the great burden that tensions between China and the United States have created. While it seems as if there is no end in sight, multiple representatives have come together to discuss potential solutions to this pertinent problem.
“A main source of tension between the United States and China stems from trade disputes. Therefore, interjecting as the ASEAN to promote a joint trade force can be one of the many possible options,” the representative from the Philippines also said.
While China and the United States press on with their own agendas, nations across the world are suffering and hoping for a solution.
