SOUTHEAST Asian Nations (Asean) leaders are expected to raise “serious concern” over the current situation in the resource-rich South China Sea that might “raise tensions and erode trust and confidence in the region,” according to Asean chairperson’s draft message.
President Rodrigo Duterte is likely to speak soft regarding the sea row at the end of the 30th Asean summit, as the Hague-based ruling that favors the Philippines and invalidates China’s claim to South China Sea was not mentioned in the draft statement, which was obtained by reporters on Wednesday.
The draft message merely statement that Asean leaders “reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and freedom of navidation in and over-flight over the South China Sea.”
“We reaffirmed the importance of enhancing mutual trust and confidence, exercising self-restraint in the conduct of activities, avoiding actions that may further complicate the situation, and pursuing resolution of disputes,” portion of the draft statement read.
The exclusion of the arbitral ruling from the statement showed that Duterte remains focused on strengthening bilateral ties with China by sticking to a diplomatic approach to resolve the maritime row.
The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled on July 12, 2016 that China has no legal basis to claim historic rights within the disputed waters.
Duterte, however, has repeatedly refused to invoke the ruling and stressed that he will raise it at "a proper time."
In the draft message, Duterte is only expected to cite that disputes on South China Sea could be addressed “through full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 Unted Nations Convention on the Law of Sea.”
Four of 10 Asean member-states, namely Bruenei, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam, are claiming parts of the South China Sea. Taiwan and China are also laying claim to most features of the waters.
China and Asean countries will meet in May to discuss the Declaration on the Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and finish the crafting of a code of conduct framework on the South China Sea before year ends.
The draft statement said that Duterte and other Asean leaders “underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of [DOC] in its entirety. The DOC mandates self-restraint and non-militarization with the contested waters.
The 10 leaders of Asean member-states were also “pleased to complete a framework of the Code of Conduct (COC), in order to facilitate the early adoption of the COC within the Asean-China process.”
The 30th Asean meetings began Wednesday with a Committee of Permanent Representatives summit at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City. It will conclude on Saturday. (SunStar Philippines)