Coc

Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely (Source: dutertenewsportal.com) “We urge parties to ensure the Code of Conduct is consistent with existing international rules, including those in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Code of Conduct should not prejudice the interests of third parties or the rights of all states under international law, including UNCLOS,” Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Amanda Gorely said at a forum on the rules-based international system hosted by the Stratbase ADR Institute in Taguig city on August 17. According to the ambassador, as a member of the Indo-Pacific region and the ASEAN’s oldest dialogue partner, developments in the East Sea matter to Australia and the COC negotiation has the potential to help manage the disputes and deescalate tensions. Gorely said the document must reinforce the existing regional architecture, the ASEAN’s centrality and “it should strengthen … [Read more...] about Australia urges finalisation of COC in line with UNCLOS

Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen Ng added that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) should also be strengthened, as it is "the legal framework on which both rights of navigation and claims of resources are based on". For ASEAN to maintain its centrality, it must remain "neutral, inclusive and open", he said. Speaking at the 20th Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior Military Officers organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, the minister said trade, ASEAN must focus on such areas as trade, connectivity and defence in order to maintain its central role. While ASEAN needs to make collective efforts to avoid trade tensions, this bloc should also continue promoting multilateral free trade agreements signed with the EU and China, he said. He also called on ASEAN member states to stay vigilant against security threats like terrorism. Last week, at the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the 51st ASEAN Foreign … [Read more...] about ASEAN, China urged to quickly conclude COC

Foreign Minister of Singapore Vivian Balakrishnan Speaking at the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting on the sidelines of the 51st ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Singapore on August 2, Foreign Minister of the host nation Vivian Balakrishnan called it a “milestone” in the COC process since the ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) in China last June. He said the text will be “a living document and the basis of future COC negotiations”, adding that both sides also agreed on the key modalities for future rounds of negotiations. Negotiations on the COC have been conducted for more than a decade with a number of difficulties regarding its terms and pace of the talks. However, there have been clear signs of ASEAN having a more unanimous viewpoint on the East Sea issue in recent years. In August 2017, foreign ministers of ASEAN and China adopted a draft … [Read more...] about ASEAN, China agree on ‘single draft’ for COC negotiations

The meeting is set to take place amid concerns over China's increasing militarisation in the area, Straits Times cited Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah as saying.  He said the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) that was signed in 2002 by ASEAN and China does not appear to have "fangs". The construction of military bases and the deployment of military assets by China on its man-made islands in the East Sea have created unease among ASEAN countries, he told the Malaysian Parliament in response to questions on Malaysia's stance. China also deploys coast guard ships resembling warships in the strategic waterway, a move that has added to jitters in the region, said the minister. All parties need to avoid actions that can create tensions and are provocative, practise self-restraint and avoid military actions, he stressed. VNA Related news ASEAN, China committed to completing COC in East Sea COC draft framework marks major progress in East … [Read more...] about ASEAN to discuss COC with China: Malaysian FM