ASEAN FMs see need to sustain South China Sea dialogue

From the Philippine Star (Feb 21): ASEAN FMs see need to sustain South China Sea dialogue

Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers saw the need for continuous dialogue in easing the tensions in the disputed South China Sea.

In a press briefing after the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat at the Shangri-La Hotel here, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said a number of his counterparts expressed concern overrecent developments and escalation of activities in the area which may further raise tensions and erode trust and confidence in the region.

"They reaffirmed the importance of the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities, and avoiding actions that may further complicate the situation, and pursuing peaceful resolution of disputes, including through full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS," Yasay said.

The Ministers also underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety, and efforts within theASEAN-China process to complete a framework of the Code of Conduct (COC), in order to facilitate the early adoption of the COC.

The ministers noted that the code of conduct must be legally binding and must cover areas of how disputes will be resolved for it to be effective.

Yasay added that the ASEAN foreign ministers respect the July 12, 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the Philippines' protest against China's nine-dash line claim over the disputed waters.

However, Yasay said the Philippines will pursue its bilateral talks with China to resolve the maritime dispute.

The retreat in Boracay was the first gathering of the ASEAN foreign ministers under the Philippines' chairmanship with the theme,"Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.”

During the retreat, the ministers discussed the organization's six priorities: a people-oriented ASEAN, peace and stability, maritime security and cooperation, inclusive innovation-led growth, resiliency, and the ASEAN as a model of regionalism and a global player.

They also discussed the way forward for ASEANCommunity building, including the implementation of the ASEANCommunity Vision 2025, especially the ASEAN Political-SecurityCommunity Blueprint, and strengthening of ASEAN’s external relations and maintaining ASEAN centrality in the evolving regionalarchitecture.

Yasay also said the Ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest and concern and discussed ways of promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond including non-traditional security challenges such as terrorism, piracy and armed robbery at sea, cybersecurity, natural disasters, climate change, irregular migration, trafficking in persons and illicit drugs, maritime security and cooperation, and developments in various regions, including the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula and the South China Sea, among others, as well as sustainable development.

Yasay also said the Ministers agreed on the need to maintain ASEAN centrality and unity, including having a credible, collective and cohesive ASEAN response in addressing domestic and regional challenges.

Recalling the February 14, 2017 Statement of the ASEAN ForeignMinisters on the Ballistic Missile Launch by the Democratic People’sRepublic of Korea (DPRK), ASEAN expressed its grave concern over thisdevelopment and urged the DPRK to comply with relevant UNSCresolutions in the interest of maintaining regional peace, securityand stability.

Established on Aug. 8, 1967, the ASEAN is composed of 10 member states: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

It aims to promote regional cooperation on economic, political and security concerns.

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=1&sid=&nid=1&rid=965973