China and the countries surrounding the South China Sea should set up a cooperation mechanism to boost exchanges ranging from disaster relief to safety of navigation, a senior diplomat said in comments reported yesterday. China claims most of the resource-rich South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in shipborne trade passes every year. Neighbors Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims on the strategic waterway. “The mechanism is aimed at strengthening pragmatic cooperation and increasing mutual trust, and is not about resolving disputes,” Liu said.

China wants sea cooperation. (2017, March 28). The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 12.