He was speaking at the opening of a seminar, entitled “A Move for Peace and Prosperity in the South China Sea” in Vientiane, Laos. The seminar was organised by the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council.

Surakiart said that the intention of this seminar is to further consolidate the perception on functional cooperation as a genuine way forward for peace and prosperity in the South China Sea.

“But as it happens, our deliberations today, coinciding with the arbitral award, could be very relevant and important for the future of the South China Sea.”

“Given the importance of the South China Sea to the peace and prosperity in this region and its importance to the development of the Asean Economic Community, the APRC has taken its decision to avail its resources through quiet diplomacy and academic exercises to help mitigate the South China Sea disputes and avoid possible armed and military encounters in these troubled waters.”

The South China Sea issue should not be allowed to disturb the promise for further stability and the growing prosperity that we have worked tirelessly to achieve in Asia, or further jeopardise or politicize ongoing efforts toward resolution, he said.

“We have a responsibility to make sure the dispute does not harm the realization of the AseanCommunity. We have a responsibility to make sure the dispute does not disturb ongoing negotiations of the RCEP, our relationship with China and indeed Asean itself.

“APRC believes that attempts to try to put in place functional cooperation between each pair of claimant states can serve as a genuine effort for all parties to look for common interests and cooperative uses of the disputed areas and their natural resources while the questions of sovereignty negotiations may continue on the parallel tracks.”

Notwithstanding this afternoon arbitral award, we are of the view that both the general principles of international law and the provisions of UNCLOS 1982 provide legal basis for joint development arrangements between disputed parties while parties remain unable to reach a maritime delimitation agreement.

Lack of progress, muddling through or continuing the current stand-off will cause all sides to dig-in further to consolidate their already entrenched positions. It would further fuel the vicious cycle of ultra-national narratives. It would hinder an amicable solution to the dispute and threaten to increase the growing brinkmanship at sea.

Thus, collectively it is time for all of us to step back and to take stock of where we are and what we want to achieve moving forward. The situation at sea must be de-politicized, cooled down in order for us to build a shared vision for cooperation moving forward.

There is no one single comprehensive solution for a complex situation, but functional cooperation offers that way forward through cooperation which could range from fishery cooperation, management of sustainable fisheries and joint scientific research.

In the wake of the Arbitration Award, it is time for parties to make sure that no military and armed intervention would follow, Surakiart said, functional cooperation agreements at the early stage from now on will help secure the peace of the South China Sea in the short and medium term, and ensure stability, growth and prosperity in the Asean Community and East Asia as a whole in the long term.

Functional cooperation can build confidence, improve the atmosphere and increase the comfort levels needed before claims on sovereignty can be discussed.

“No matter our standpoint, no one here wants to see the South China Sea crumble into conflict.”

“Whatever the decision of the Arbitral award this afternoon would be, I hope it should be treated as a starting point for alternative, creative, constructive and friendly dialogue between Asean and China cooperation for peace and prosperity in the region, Surakiart said.

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