Flexible on Territorial Disputes, Firm on Reforms

The Straits Times

24 November 2014

CHINA will be more accommodating on territorial issues with its neighbours in the coming year, but will continue to be firm with reforms at home, said speakers at The Straits Times Global Outlook Forum.

After two years of taking an aggressive stance on its East and South China Sea claims – particularly against Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines – China’s foreign policy community is going through “serious reflection” over concerns that the country has lost respect and regional influence.

While they may cheer gains such as the undermining of United States leadership in the region, they have also seen the “negative consequences in regional strategic realignments”, said China expert Li Mingjiang of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at the forum on Friday.

Categories:

RSIS / IDSS / GPO / Print / Online