President Aquino: Pursue a code of conduct. AP FILE PHOTO
SAN CARLOS CITY, Philippines—President Aquino on Thursday brushed aside suggestions to use a new defense agreement between the Philippines and the United States to combat China’s incursions into the West Philippine Sea.
The President was responding to a question whether the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) could help Manila against Beijing’s increasing aggressiveness in the West Philippine Sea.
Aquino, who was here for the inauguration of the 22-megawatt San Carlos Solar Energy farm, said that rather than predicting things, what should be done is to pursue a code of conduct in the sea between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).
That way, he said, there will be clarification of the rights and obligations of the rival claimants in the South China Sea.
When that is resolved, misunderstandings will be dealt with because the rights and obligations of the claimants have become clear, he said.