MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated the Philippines’ commitment for an immediate conclusion of negotiations for a code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea, or West Philippines Sea (WPS).
Speaking before fellow Southeast Asian leaders in a working dinner Tuesday evening in Singapore, Duterte said the Philippines is ready to do its part in realizing a more peaceful, stable and secure region.
“In our role as country coordinator of the ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations until 2021, we are committed to work with all concerned parties in the substantive negotiations and early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct,” he said.
“This includes the peaceful settlement of disputes, the exercise of self-restraint, and the freedom of navigation and over-flight in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” he added.
Duterte is currently attending the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.
China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations announced an agreement on a single-draft South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) negotiating text earlier this year.
The COC will serve as basis for negotiations on the code and is expected to push China and the ASEAN for an agreement on a set of formal guidelines in the disputed waters.
It aims to prevent conflicting territorial claims in the resource-rich and strategic waterway from erupting into violent confrontations or, worse, an economically devastating major conflict.
“We urge concerned parties to continue working toward the realization of lasting peace and stability,” Duterte said.
In addition, the President will reiterate the Philippine government’s “principled positions” on the South China Sea, locally called the West Philippine Sea.
The government looks forward to exchanging views on ASEAN community-building and discussions on regional and global developments that impact regional peace, security and stability, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.
“The President will reiterate the Philippines’ principled positions on matters concerning the South China Sea and transnational and trans-boundary issues such as terrorism, violent extremism, trafficking in persons, illicit drugs, and disaster risk reduction and management,” Panelo said.
“The President is expected to engage with leaders of ASEAN Dialogue Partner countries to further enrich partnership in key areas of cooperation,” he added.
On July 12, 2016 the Permanent Court of Arbitration based in The Hague ruled against China’s expansive claims over the West Philippines Sea, and in favor of the Philippines, a claimant state in the sea dispute that filed the challenge.
Despite the favorable verdict, Duterte temporarily shelved the international arbitration court’s decision that nullified China’s “nine-dash line” map to give way to friendly and peaceful bilateral talks between the Philippines and China.
But the President has promised that he will raise the decision before his term expires in 2022 despite China’s refusal to recognize the landmark ruling./PN
