(Eagle News) — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations hailed the “improving relations” between the bloc and China, noting that it was “encouraged by” the adoption of the framework of the Code of Conduct of the disputed South China Sea, among others.
The regional bloc–in a statement issued by this year’s chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte–also reaffirmed the importance of “non-militarization and self-restraint” in the conduct of activities that could “complicate the situation and escalate tensions” in the area.
Earlier Duterte said ASEAN countries were “wary and worried” about China’s militarization.
“In view of this positive momentum, we look(ed) forward to the announcement of the start of substantive negotiations on the COC with China at the 20th ASEAN-China Summit and the subsequent convening of the 23rd ASEAN-China Joint Working Group Meeting on the implementation of the DOC in Viet Nam in early 2018,” the ASEAN said.
The bloc also reaffirmed the “importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, maritime safety and security, rules-based order and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea,” while “reaffirm(ing) (its) commitment to the full and effective implementation of the DOC in its entirety, and the importance of undertaking confidence-building and preventive measures to enhance, among others, trust and confidence amongst parties.”
For this, it hailed the “successful testing” of the MFA-to-MFA hotline to manage maritime emergencies in the South China Sea, noting that it “look(s) forward to the operationalization of the joint statement on the observance of the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea in the South China Sea.”
“In our view, these are practical measures that could reduce tensions and the risks of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculation,” it said.
“…(We) stress the need to adhere to the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas,” it added.
The regional bloc is composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines,Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.