China agrees to a code of conduct, says Duterte

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang talks during the 20th ASEAN China Summit in Manila, Philippines, Monday, Nov. 13, 2017. (Linus Escandor/Pool Photo via AP)

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday night said China has “graciously” agreed to  have a Code of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea as the start of negotiations for a sea code was announced on Monday.

 “China has graciously agreed to a code of conduct,” Duterte said in a press briefing after the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit and Related Meetings in Manila.

“It binds itself to the agreement,” he added.

The Asean-China meeting on Monday announced the start of negotiations for a proposed code of conduct in the South China Sea.

“Leaders of Asean and China leaders have agreed to start talks on the Code of Conduct based on the Framework approved by the Foreign Ministers in August,” Foreign Affairs acting spokesman Robespierre Bolivar said in a statement.

President Rodrigo Duterte–Photo by Nestor Corrales