Southeast Asian countries and China have agreed that
the framework for the Code of Conduct(COC) of Parties in the South China
Sea was “not an instrument to settle territorial disputes or maritime
delimitation issues.”
This developed even after the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(Asean) and the Chinese government both sought to craft a
“legally-binding” COC that would address sea dispute.
A draft framework, which would be endorsed by Asean and China foreign
ministers on August 6 in Manila, would be “rules-based,” containing “a
set of norms to guide the conduct of parties and promote maritime
cooperation in the South China Sea.”
According to documents obtained by INQUIRER.net, the parties agreed
that the framework must “promote mutual trust, cooperation and
confidence, prevent incidents, manage incidents should they occur and
create a favorable environment for the peaceful resolution of disputes.”
They also decided to maintain “respect for each other’s independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international
law, and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of
other states.”
The draft framework also highlights the need for “full and effective
implementation of the DOC (declaration on the code of conduct of parties
in the South China Sea).”
The DOC, signed by both parties in 2002, mandates self-restraint and non-militarization in the disputed waters.
The framework was finalized during the senior officials meeting in Guiyang, China, last May.
During the 30
th Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(Asean) Summit last April, Asean member states chose not to mention
China’s reclamation activities and apparent militarization in the
disputed territories.
Tensions between the Philippines and China erupted after Beijing’s
expansive claims over the South China Sea and full scale reclamation
activities in the contested waters.
The South China Sea issue also has strained the Philippines’
relations with China after Beijing claimed almost all parts of the
minerals-rich region.
But since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in June 30 last
year, he has maintained “a soft approach” to China as he favored
bilateral talks to settle the South China Sea disputes.
The Philippines won a landmark decision at the United Nations-backed
arbitral tribunal but China has repeatedly rejected the decision.
In May, the Philippines and China held bilateral talks to discuss “sensitive” issues over the disputed sea.
source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
