This will be Aquino’s first ASEAN attendance since the Philippines submitted its memorial to the United Nations arbitral tribunal. He is expected to ask for updates on the proposed Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea and enjoy support from ASEAN neighbors for its push for a peaceful settlement to maritime disputes.
“I think all parties are in agreement that there’s a need to conclude the COC,” Cruz said.
The Philippines has a maritime dispute with China in the South China Sea. Other ASEAN countries like Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei are also claimants in the disputed area, along with Taiwan.
On March 29, the Philippines submitted a nearly 4,000-page document, called a memorial, in a bid to end what it considered decades of bullying by China. China however has refused to acknowledge the designated arbitral tribunal's jurisdiction to hear the case.
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