Southeast Asian countries have retracted a statement that expressed "serious concerns" over recent events in the South China Sea Blank France Jersey , Malaysia said on Tuesday, adding that "urgent amendments" would be made.
A meeting between Chinese and Southeast Asian foreign ministers was held on Tuesday in Southwest China's Yunnan Province.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Monday that this meeting is a special arrangement on the sidelines of the China-ASEAN annual regular meeting.
"We have to retract the media statement by the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) foreign ministers ... as there are urgent amendments to be made," a Malaysian foreign ministry spokeswoman was quoted by AFP as saying on Tuesday.
She said the ASEAN Secretariat approved the release of the statement, then later informed the ministry it was being retracted.
"We expressed our serious concerns over recent and ongoing developments which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and which may have the potential to undermine peace Blaise Matuidi France Jersey , security and stability in the South China Sea," the ASEAN communiqué had said, without mentioning China by name.
The retraction indicated disagreements within ASEAN and was worth further negotiations with China, Liu Feng, an expert on Chinese maritime issues Benoit Costil France Jersey , told the Global Times.
The disparities between China and ASEAN include China's opposition to a possible joint