Golez: The adoption of the South China Sea Code of Conduct in 2017 during the ASEAN chairmanship of the Philippines will be a big accomplishment for the Duterte administration

Golez: The adoption of the South China Sea Code of Conduct in 2017 during the ASEAN chairmanship of the Philippines will be a big accomplishment for the Duterte administration, in spite of the brazen violations by China of the 2002 Declaration of Countries or DOC by its massive reclamations and weaponizing of artificial islands. Here's the news from the ASEAN headquarters:

"The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is ready to further speed up the process to create a legally binding "code of conduct" in the South China Sea with China, its chief said recently.

"Last year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed to fast-track consultations on the code of conduct, including by developing a framework for the code by mid-2017.

"Stressing that the 10-member grouping welcomes the proposal, ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh told Kyodo News in a recent written interview that "ASEAN and China have agreed to intensify consultations on the COC to meet the deadline."

"ASEAN is ready even to further fast-track the COC process by presenting specific contents of such a COC," Minh said, adding that three joint working group meetings on the code of conduct have been scheduled in the first half of 2017."

"We look forward to concluding a COC that is comprehensive and legally binding to govern the conduct and behavior of parties in the South China Sea...(to) help create a favorable environment for a comprehensive and durable settlement of disputes," he added."



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ASEAN keen to further fast-track S. China Sea code of conduct: chief

January 8, 2017 (Mainichi Japan)

JAKARTA (Kyodo) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is ready to further speed up the process to create a legally binding "code of conduct" in the South China Sea with China, its chief said recently.

Last year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi proposed to fast-track consultations on the code of conduct, including by developing a framework for the code by mid-2017.

Stressing that the 10-member grouping welcomes the proposal, ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh told Kyodo News in a recent written interview that "ASEAN and China have agreed to intensify consultations on the COC to meet the deadline."

"ASEAN is ready even to further fast-track the COC process by presenting specific contents of such a COC," Minh said, adding that three joint working group meetings on the code of conduct have been scheduled in the first half of 2017.

"We look forward to concluding a COC that is comprehensive and legally binding to govern the conduct and behavior of parties in the South China Sea...(to) help create a favorable environment for a comprehensive and durable settlement of disputes," he added.

Discussions on the code between China and ASEAN, four of whose members -- Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam -- have claims in the South China Sea that overlap those of China, have taken place for over a decade already, amid lingering tensions in the waters.

During the first half of this year, three joint working group meetings on the code of conduct have been scheduled, with the first to take place on the Indonesian resort island of Bali next month.

ASEAN, according to Minh, remains seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments in the area, including over land reclamations and an escalation of activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region.

That is why, the former Vietnamese foreign minister said, ASEAN keeps consistently and actively engaging China in its efforts to maintain and promote peace and stability in the South China Sea.

China has aggressively asserted its claims in the disputed waters by reclaiming reefs and then installing concrete structures, including those military in nature, despite having jointly signed with ASEAN the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea that urges claimants to "exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability."

Minh also stressed that despite some differences among ASEAN member countries on several issues, including the South China Sea one, ASEAN will not leave its consensus principle in decision making.

"While consensus may take longer to achieve when it comes to agreement or solving disputes, this is ASEAN's way to ensure that no member states are left behind," he said, but added that to improve the efficiency of its work, ASEAN is currently in the process of updating its Charter without elaborating further.

The other members of ASEAN, which are not parties to the disputes in the South China Sea, are Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand.