Regional security, code of conduct to govern sea rows top ASEAN's first-day agenda

From InterAksyon (Nov 12): Regional security, code of conduct to govern sea rows top ASEAN's first-day agenda

Regional security, and the declarations that have been advanced to promote this, topped the agenda on the first day of the 25th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Leaders' Summit here.

President Benigno Aquino III told leaders of the nine other ASEAN member countries it was time to have a legally binding code of conduct in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, 90 percent of which is being claimed by China.

The "legally binding code of conduct," said Aquino, is the best means for responding to the regional maritime disputes, such as that between Beijing and Manila, over the West Philippine Sea.  Last May, the Philippines submitted its Memorial to the UN arbitral tribunal where it had elevated the case against China's "excessive claims."

The code is crucial to promoting economies in the ASEAN bloc in the next few years - particularly in terms of boosting commerce and trade, public-private partnerships, and stronger connectivity between member states, he pointed out.

Leaders of ASEAN supported the President's pitch.

According to Presidential Communication Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma, "the general sense of the heads of state was one of support; they recognize this to be an important step forward."

It is the first time Mr. Aquino has faced all fellow ASEAN leaders since Manila's filing of its Memorial with the UN international tribunal on the law of the sea or ITLOS concerning the territorial claim of Manila on the West Philippine Sea.

President Aquino, however, did not reveal full details of the Philippines-China encounter.

Palace officials stressed that Mr. Aquino and President Xi Jinping had a clear understanding that the two countries will continue negotiations for a peaceful resolution of the maritime issues.

According to Coloma, they acknowledged that peaceful resolution is essential, peace and stability in the region is vital to attaining a greater measure of economic progress.

At the same time, he made clear that by no means was the Philippines withdrawing the arbitration case with ITLOS.

"There is no change in our position, our filing with the [tribunal] for arbitration is still an active process, and we continue to await progress on that process," Coloma added.

Besides the Philippines, ASEAN members Malaysia, Vietnam, and Brunei have territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Also expected on the first day of the ASEAN meetings is the ASEAN-Japan summit and the bilateral meeting between Mr. Aquino and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Japan's emerging role in regional security.

The Philippines is confident about the support of ASEAN leaders for the code of conduct, which is deemed indispensable to boosting the regional economy. This accounts for Manila's expectation that finally, after a decade, the code of conduct may be finally in place.

http://www.interaksyon.com/article/99082/regional-security-code-of-conduct-to-govern-sea-rows-top-aseans-first-day-agenda