Duterte to push for sea code at Asean meet- DFA
Credit to Author: THE MANILA TIMES| Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2019 05:06:14 +0000
President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to push for the completion of the long-delayed code of conduct in the South China Sea when he attends the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) meeting in Thailand this week, the
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said on Monday.
In a pre-departure briefing in Malacañang, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Junever Mahilum-West said it was “unavoidable” for Southeast Asian leaders to discuss the sea code as several Asean member states have conflicting claims over the disputed waters.
“I think it will be featured in the discussions. It’s unavoidable. Kasi doon sa meeting na ‘yun ng mga leaders (Because in the meeting of the leaders), they will have a tour of the horizon of what’s happening throughout the region,” Mahilum-West told reporters.
“So in all three pillars of cooperation: political security, economic, and then socio-cultural. So it will be discussed there and then I think we could expect the countries to give their positions,” she added.
With the Philippines as coordinator of the Asean-China dialogue partnership until 2021, Mahilum-West said Duterte was “expected to say something” about the sea code in the regional summit.
The sea code was among the maritime issues raised by Duterte when he flew to China in August.
In his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Duterte cited the need to finish the code of conduct, saying it would help resolve numerous conflicts.
Xi agreed, expressing hope that it would be crafted within the last remaining years of Duterte. CATHERINE S. VALENTE