According to the Philippines’ top diplomat, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members must expedite talks on a code of conduct for the disputed waters and ensure that their opinions are heard in the South China Sea conflict.
By speaking up, the 10-member group can raise awareness of how crucial it is to follow international law in order to resolve conflicts amicably. Enrique Manalo, the Foreign Affairs Secretary of the Philippines, stated on Friday
In Bangkok, where the Philippines and Thailand commemorate 75 years of official diplomatic ties, he told CNA, “There is a need for ASEAN to speak a little bit more about the (South China Sea) situation.”
“ASEAN has a significant role to play in ensuring that nations can participate more effectively in the code of conduct negotiations and in preserving certain principles, such as the rule of international law, particularly about the South China Sea.” He said that during last week’s ASEAN regional conference in Laos, leaders had “frank discussions” about the situation in the South China Sea.
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