US supports quick conclusion of talks on Code of Conduct in West PHL Sea — Aquino says

From the Philippine News Agency (Oct 10): US supports quick conclusion of talks on Code of Conduct in West PHL Sea — Aquino says

The Philippines and United States share the same view on the necessity for the immediate crafting of a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) to avoid tensions in the contested area in the West Philippines Sea, President Benigno S. Aquino III said on Wednesday.

“Ang iminungkahi ni Secretary Kerry basically is papaspasin natin ‘yung proseso na to get that code of conduct and the absence of which, syempre adds to the sense of uncertainty which is not a factor that would enhance… stability and prosperity for all parties concerned,” the President said in an interview with the Philippine media at the Philippine Embassy here.

There is nothing wrong with the proposal of US Secretary of State John Kerry to immediately adopt a COC to prevent tensions, which if the parties opt to shelve may add to uncertainties, the Chief Executive noted.

Claimant countries tried to come up with a COC a decade ago but was able to produce only the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in 2002, he said.

“So does it benefit anybody to delay the process again for another decade, two decades, three decades? Is there a possibility na ‘yung sa uncertainty, hindi mo alam ang rules, how do you actually operationalize the principles embodied in the DOC, which is supposedly what the COC will do,” the President continued.

To avoid the gray areas, claimants must agree on certain rules and guidelines that will include everyone’s obligations, rights, and the way each party would behave with regards to specific claims.

The good thing this time is that everybody is interested in reviving the talks on the COC, the President said.

Unlike before, China today is showing strong willingness to work with other claimants on a mutually agreed COC, he added.

Among the claimants to the territory include China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=575039