An official of the Department of Foreign Affairs has denied that China had attempted to influence the Association of Southeast Asian Nations heads of states in crafting their ASEAN joint statement. According to Zaldy Patron, DFA’s executive director for ASEAN affairs, the regional bloc’s leaders just expressed optimism that there will be “good progress” as the code of conduct (COC) framework in the contested waters is expected to be completed by the middle of this year. “Whereas before, China […]