From the Philippine News Agency (Apr 23):
Palace optimistic on adoption of
binding Code of Conduct in South China Sea
Malacanang is optimistic the attendance of President Benigno S. Aquino III
at the 22nd Summit of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) would pave the way for the crafting of a Code
of Conduct in the West Philippine Sea.
"We are optimistic that we will see progress because of the 22nd Summit," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail
Valte said when asked how confident the Philippines is in moving the
negotiations forward for the particular Code of Conduct.
However, Valte said that since the ASEAN has Brunei Darussalam as the new
chairman, it is expected that the regional group would have new priorities and
agenda in the summit which will be held this week.
“As you know last year, nagkaroon na ng consensus that it’s time to talk
about this particular subject matter. And we will see what will happen in
Brunei, how the
talks on the Code [of Conduct] will push forward,” she said.
The Philippine government said it is the right time for the ASEAN and
China to have a legally binding code of conduct
to prevent occupation of disputed and non-disputed areas in the
West Philippine Sea and Panatag Shoal.
The Department of Foreign Affairs said the ASEAN and
China have to implement the Declaration on the
Code of Conduct in the
South China Sea because
some of the provisions that were laid out in said agreement have notbeen fully
implemented.
In 2002, ASEAN and
China
agreed on the Declaration on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in
Cambodia.
The President will join his counterparts in the 22nd ASEAN leaders’ summit
that will be held in
Bandar Seri
Begawan, Brunei
Darussalam on April 24 and 25.
This year’s summit theme is “Our People, Our Future Together,” emphasizing
the importance of ASEAN citizens in realizing the vision of an ASEAN community
by 2015.
http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=&sid=&nid=&rid=519128
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