Aquino to lobby for China, Asean code of conduct on dispute at summit

President Benigno Aquino III. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Wednesday said President Benigno Aquino III will raise the issue of territorial disputes with China and efforts to resolve it at the 24^th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit in Myanmar over the weekend.

“I’m sure the president will be bringing up this agenda item. I think he will be asking his fellow Asean leaders to work for the early conclusion of the COC (code of conduct),” DFA spokesperson Charles Jose said in a press briefing in Malacañang.

Aquino will fly to Myanmar on May 10 for the two-day Asean summit, where the region’s heads of state will discuss the initiative for Asean integration and their views on current regional and international issues.

The Asean is currently working on the drafting of a code of conduct with China to ease tensions amid maritime disputes in the South China Sea. The Philippines is among the nations embroiled in territorial spats with China.

Asked if the COC will be finalized within the year, Jose said no deadline has been agreed upon.

Nevertheless he said, “The Philippines is encouraged by the recent developments in the drafting of the Code of Conduct. There have been three meetings thus far since September 2013.”

Jose said the Philippine government is optimistic, at least when it comes to the sentiment of the other Asean nations.

However, he explained that it can only hope that China will be as enthusiastic.

“We are hoping that China will move in the same pace…We can only hope,” he said.

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