(Eagle News) – President Rodrigo Duterte reaffirmed ASEAN and China’s shared commitment to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, as he stressed that both ASEAN and China had agreed on the value of self-restraint, and freedom of navigationa and overflight in the disputed South China Sea.
“President Duterte reiterated the need to maintain and promote peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea,” said a Palace statement issued on Monday, Nov. 19, after President Duterte’s arrival late Sunday from the successful participation in the recent ASEAN and APEC Summits.
Malacanang also said that Duterte “stressed the need to exercise self-restraint and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation.”
As the Philippines assumed a new role as the Country Coordinator for ASEAN-China Dialogue Relations, President Duterte delivered the ASEAN-China Common Statement during the recent 33rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Singapore.
“ASEAN and China are committed to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and the expeditious conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC),” said the ASEAN-China common statement read by Duterte.
He said that ASEAN and China have had “steady progress in the initial phase of the COC negotiations” since the announcement of a single draft COC negotiating text.
He said that that the first reading of the Single Draft COC Negotiating Text could be completed next year.
In the ASEAN-China common statement, China has committed to “continue to maintain a conducive environment for future rounds of negotiations of the COC.”
Duterte said that the Philippines, on the other hand, as co-chair of the COC negotiations, “will continue to work closely together with the ASEAN Member States and China for the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC.”
In the meantime that the COC is being completed, both the ASEAN member states and China reaffirmed the importance of maintaining “freedom of navigation and overflight” in the disputed South China Sea.
The ASEAN-China common statement also stressed the importance of the “exercise of self-restraint” and the peaceful resolution of disputes in the region
“We also reaffirm the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation, and pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS,” the common statement read by Duterte said.
It touted the successful completion of the ASEAN-China Maritime Exercise for the first time.
“The Exercise is a useful confidence-building measure that strengthens practical cooperation, and builds mutual trust, friendship, and understanding amongst ASEAN and Chinese navies,” the statement added.
Aside from tackling the issues confronting the South China Sea, the ASEAN-China common statement also touched on the economic and socio-cultural cooperation among ASEAN member states and China.
