Tarlac City – A peaceful resolution to the territorial conflict in the South China Sea will be part of the agenda of President Aquino when he attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia next week.
The President said he intends to call anew for resumption of formal talks on the crafting of a binding Code of Conduct in the disputed area at the regional summit. The annual ASEAN leaders’ summit will be held April 26-28 in Kuala Lumpur and Langkawi in Malaysia.
Aquino said the ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea has obviously been violated in light of China’s land reclamation in the area. This has made the pursuit of a Code of Conduct more urgent today, he added.
The President said the territorial dispute in the South China Sea is a problem not just for the Philippines but for other countries as well, citing its adverse impact on freedom of navigation and international trade in the area.
“Ipaalala lang natin, siyempre, dapat mabahala tayo doon sa nangyayaring reclamation ngayon (We will also remind them that we should be concerned about the reclamation happening today),” he said.
Apart from the artificial islands built by China, Aquino said he is concerned that the Philippines had to ask permission from China to fish within the country’s exclusive economic zone.
“So ‘yung pagsasalita ng mga ibang bansa, lalo na ‘yung hindi talaga nandito sa ating lugar, kumikilala doon sa bigat ng problema na problema ng lahat (The statements made by other countries even if they are not from the region recognizes the gravity of the problem – that it is a problem for all),” he said.
Aquino also remained hopeful that the territorial spat with China will be resolved through legal and diplomatic tracks, not use of force or coercion.
Manila Bulletin
