BANGKOK – More maritime incidents and miscalculation that could spiral out of control might happen if the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea is not finalized soon, President Duterte warned yesterday.
At the 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit retreat in Thailand, the President pushed for the early conclusion of the set of rules governing the conduct of parties passing the disputed waters amid concerns about the delays in the negotiations.
Duterte made the comment after raising the maritime incident involving a Filipino vessel and Chinese boat near Recto Bank during the weekend summit in Bangkok.
“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte attended the 34th ASEAN Summit Retreat today, June 23, where he expressed concern and disappointment over the delay in the negotiations for a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.
“The Chief Executive explained that the longer the delay for an early conclusion of the CoC, the higher the probability of maritime incidents happening and the greater the chance for miscalculations that may spiral out of control,” Panelo said.
Panelo said the Philippines, as country coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, together with fellow Southeast Asian nations, would continue to push for the “full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.”
At the ASEAN summit retreat, the President has also called on the regional bloc to stay “united and steadfast” in protecting time-honored principles of international law, according to Panelo.
“He expressed his support for the Philippines to adopt the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific to reaffirm ASEAN’s strategic role and the vision of a closely integrated Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions,” he said. (Genalyn Kabiling)