MFA Spokesman's comments in response to media queries on the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Statement of 20 July 2012, and an article by Philippine Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Erlinda Basilio published on 18 July 2012

MFA has received media queries referring to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Statement on ASEAN’s Six-Point Principles on the South China Sea issued by Cambodia as the ASEAN Chair on 20 July 2012, as well as to an article by Philippine Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Erlinda Basilio published on 18 July 2012. MFA has been asked whether Singapore had wanted a specific mention of the Scarborough Shoal in the Joint Communiqué of the 45^th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM), and how Singapore viewed the latest Statement, which does not include such a mention.

 In response to these queries, the MFA Spokesman said:

 “Singapore was not one of the states that had taken the position that it was absolutely necessary for the Scarborough Shoal to be specifically mentioned in the Joint Communiqué. As previously mentioned, several ASEAN Member States (AMS) had tried very hard to negotiate a consensus on the South China Sea paragraph in the Joint Communiqué of the 45^th AMM. To this end, Singapore as well as other AMS had made various proposals which did not refer specifically to Scarborough Shoal or other geographical features.

 “As stated previously, Singapore has supported and welcomed the statement that has been issued.”

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

20 JULY 2012