ASEAN members focus on security issues  ASEAN member nations: Brunei Cambodia Indonesia Laos Malaysia Myanmar The Philippines Thailand Singapore Vietnam. VIDEO CNN's Maria Ressa reports on security issues debated by ASEAN members Windows Media 28K 80K  MESSAGE BOARDS: Taiwanese statehood?

July 26, 1999
Web posted at: 12:53 p.m. EDT (1653 GMT)

In this story: Six-way claim on Spratlys North Korean missiles RELATED STORIES, SITES

From staff and wire reports

SINGAPORE (CNN) -- Tensions between China and Taiwan, concern over North Korea's military ambitions, and the disputed Spratly Islands dominated a southeast Asian regional security forum Monday in Singapore.

The discussions took place at the one day conference hosted by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Along with ASEAN's 10 member nations, the United States, Russia, China, Japan, Australia, Canada, South Korea, India, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Mongolia and the European Union were participating in the forum.

China and Taiwan began a war of words when Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui appeared recently to discard the long-standing "one-China" policy that has kept the peace between the two for decades. On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan warned that his country would act if there was any attempt to help Taiwan toward independence.

"China's territory and sovereignty are indivisible and brook no violation," Tang said. "Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, which is a historical fact and also the consensus of the international community."

Tang adjusts his headphones

Most of the foreign ministers avoided the subject of Taiwan-China relations in their remarks Monday, said forum chairman Shanmugam Jayakumar, who is also Singapore's foreign minister.

But ASEAN reiterated its support of the "one-China" policy, with China the sole government, rejecting Lee's July 9 call for "state-to-state" relations between China and Taiwan.

Six-way claim on Spratlys

China was also reluctant to discuss the possibly oil- and mineral-rich Spratlys, in the South China Sea, joining Malaysia in calling for a bilateral discussion between the six governments who claim the islands in whole or in part.

"We are not in favor of the involvement in this matter of any country which has nothing to do with this issue," said foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue.

But U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said that the stakes were "too high" to "sit on the sidelines and watch."

Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan all have put some claim on the islands. Taiwan is not a member of the forum.

The situation escalated last week when the Philippines sank a Chinese fishing boat near the islands, claiming the collision was an accident. China disputed the claim.

In the end, the foreign ministers issued a statement welcoming "the commitment of all countries concerned to the peaceful settlement of the South China Sea dispute."

North Korean missiles

A final communique from the ministers expressed concern about "missile related activities" by North Korea, which is not a member of the regional forum. Japan, concerned that further missile tests by the reclusive communist country could threaten the region's stability, made the proposal.

North Korean ally China agreed to the expression of concern, after warning Japan to avoid more "provocative expressions."

The United States and others urged North Korea to join the forum.

The forum members also discussed, but took no action, on Kashmir, human rights abuses and drug smuggling in Myanmar, and violence in East Timor.

Additionally, Jayakumar told the group that Asia's financial crisis had a significant impact on the region's security.

Correspondent Maria Ressa, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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