Sea code of conduct to be raised at ASEAN

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte may bring up the Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea at the 35th ASEAN Leaders Summit later this week in Bangkok, Thailand.

But Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary for ASEAN affairs Junever Mahilum-West said attending ASEAN leaders are unlikely to discuss the matter thoroughly at the plenary.

As Duterte himself has directly told China to fast-track the drafting of the COC, he is expected to call on other nations to back him up at the forum.

“I wouldn’t want to preempt what the President would say. But in terms of looking at the conditions, the situation on the ground or at sea in the South China Sea, for example, I think the President would be expected to say something about it,” West said.

ASEAN comprises the Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.

The Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam have overlapping claims in the South China. China claims almost the entire South China Sea.

ASEAN Dialogue Partners such as the United States, Japan, China and India as well as the United Nations will send representatives to the summit slated from Nov. 2 to 4.

She stressed discussions would inevitably touch on the COC as ASEAN leaders would have to be apprised of developments in the region.

“So in all three pillars of cooperation: political security, economic and then socio-cultural. So it will be discussed there and then I think we could expect the countries to give their positions. But as to intensive negotiations, we don’t expect that will happen in this meeting – in these kinds of meetings,” she added.

In 2002, ASEAN and China signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to prevent actions that could complicate the longstanding maritime dispute.

Seventeen years have passed since the approval of the declaration, but a binding code has yet to be crafted.

In August, Duterte pressed China about the COC, saying further delays in the completion of a binding code could lead to a “miscalculation” in disputed areas. The Philippines is the coordinator country for ASEAN-China dialogue until 2021.

To accompany Duterte to the summit are Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista and other Cabinet members.

The President’s partner Honeylet Avanceña will also join the trip to participate in a program for the spouses of leaders.

The Philippine delegation is also expected to join the ASEAN Plus Three Summit and the East Asia Summit.

West said there are about 40 anticipated outcome documents at the end of the summit.

Duterte is expected to attend the ASEAN summit plenary on Nov. 2 and the ASEAN-China, ASEAN-India and ASEAN-United Nations summits the following day.

Other side events are the ASEAN-United States summit, the ASEAN-Japan summit and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership summit.

West said the foreign affairs department is arranging bilateral meetings between Duterte and fellow world leaders but gave no details, saying such meetings would only be announced once they are firmed up.

Chief of presidential protocol Robert Borje said officials are working on the assumption that Duterte would attend all meetings.

“If he’s going to miss any of the meetings, then appropriate guidance will be given to us and then a representative will be tasked. Normally, if the President is unable to attend a meeting, it’s the secretary of foreign affairs who attends,” Borje said. – With Alexis Romero