Kerry: South China Sea Code of Conduct to ensure regional peace

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – A binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea will ensure peace and stability for the entire Southeast Asian region, United States (US) Secretary of State John Kerry said.

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that the region’s future stability will depend in part on the success and the timeliness of the effort to produce a code of conduct,” Kerry said in a press conference in Jakarta, Indonesia during his visit February 16, 2014.

“The longer the process takes, the longer tensions will simmer and the greater the chance of a miscalculation by somebody that could trigger a conflict. That is in nobody’s interest,” Kerry said.

DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez backed Kerry’s statements saying that the conclusion of the Code of Conduct will ensure peace and stability in the region.

“These comments are fully in line with the basic Philippine and ASEAN stance that we should move expiditiously to conclude a binding Code of Conduct in order to reinforce regional peace and stability,” Hernandez said in a text message Tuesday.

China is being pressured to peacefully resolve territorial disputes in the South China Sea and to avoid conflict.

China claims the entire South China Sea as its territory including parts of the Philippines 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone.

Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan also have territorial claims in the South China Sea.

The Philippines has filed a case against China before the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration over its overlapping claim in the region that is believed to contain vast reserves of oil and gas.

Philippines is set to submit its written arguments by March 2014. China has refused to participate in the proceedings.

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