Aquino in Brunei for Asean meet

President Aquino arrives to attend the Association of Southeast Asia Nations Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013. AP PHOTO/VINCENT THIAN

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN—President Aquino arrived here on Tuesday for the 23rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit, where leaders will tackle reducing tensions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) and maritime and security concerns.

The Asean leaders are also here to discuss the implementation of an Asean Community by 2015.

Aside from the summit proper, Aquino will attend nine other meetings with Asean’s dialogue partners, such as China, Japan, Korea and the United States.

Aquino and the Chinese leaders are not expected to have bilateral meetings on their countries’ territorial row.

“This summit is expected to give guidance and direction to the Asean’s efforts to manage its territorial disputes and maritime issues and other security concerns,” said Philippine Ambassador to Brunei Nelson Ochoa.

Four Asean countries—the Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam and Malaysia—and China have overlapping claims on the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, parts of which Manila calls West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines has protested against China’s incursion in territories that Manila claims, particularly Bajo de Masinloc off Zambales province and Ayungin Shoal near Palawan.

Ochoa said the Philippines was also calling for the conclusion of a Asean-China Code of Conduct on the South China Sea to help “manage tensions.”

“Through these two-track approach to resolving disputes in the South China Sea, the Philippines is contributing … to promote peace, stability and maritime security in the region,” Ochoa said.

The establishment of an Asean Community is also on top of the leaders’ agenda.

“We are going to assess how far we have gone into establishing a politically cohesive, politically stable and secure community,” said Philippine Ambassador to Asean Elizabeth Buensuceso.

The Asean vision would include establishment of an economic community, which envisions an integrated economy with a free flow of goods, services, investment and capital.

Such a project aims to reduce poverty and socioeconomic disparities.

Buensuceso said the Asean leaders would assess how much progress had been made toward having one regional community by 2015.