25 Nobyembre,2024 Lunes
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Get well soon Nanay Angelita Santiago-Lopez
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Family of the late Jocelyn “Jo” Lising-Abelgas appreciates every moments shared by friends and relatives in their bereavement
SCS Code of Conduct pushed in ASEAN
By Nidz Godino
“Defense leaders underscored their shared commitment to advance vision for free, open, secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific, where international law and sovereignty are respected,” Department of National Defense (DND) said in joint readout of meeting defense chiefs of all 10 member-states of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have renewed their commitment to work together “in constructive and peaceful manner to maintain South China Sea (SCS) as sea of peace, stability and prosperity.”
At this year’s 18th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) in Laos, defense ministers said preserving peace and promoting prosperity in the region should be done “through full and effective implementation of 2002 Declaration on nduct of Parties in South China Sea (DOC) and early conclusion of effective and substantive Code of Conduct in South China Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, including 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), within a mutually-agreed timeline.”
Vientiane Joint Declaration said ASEAN member-countries, through their defense chiefs, “are committed to promoting maritime security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight and creating conducive environment for peaceful settlement of disputes in South China Sea.”
In statement, ASEAN defense ministers emphasized “ need for early conclusion of effective and substantive COC in accordance with international law, including 1982 UNCLOS while underlining full and effective implementation of DOC in South China Sea in its entirety.”
ASEAN groups Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Defense chiefs said such development would complement “existing confidence-building measures such as Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, Guidelines for Air Military Encounters, Guidelines for Maritime Interaction, ASEAN Direct Communications Infrastructure and other related activities under DOC framework to promote communication, mutual trust and confidence and to reduce tensions and risk of accidents, misunderstandings and miscalculation in the air and at sea.”
Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and his counterparts in US, Australia, Japan and South Korea issued separate joint statement reaffirming their “shared commitment” to stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, after their ADDM meetings.
Department of National Defense (DND) also announced Australia, Japan, Philippines, Republic of Korea and United States issued joint statement on CS issue after engaging in meetings during ADDM-Plus meeting in Lao PDR.
“Ministers and secretaries emphasized importance of close multilateral cooperation in support of regional security and stability, and underscored importance of ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led regional architecture,” they said.
“Leaders highlighted progress made in strengthening their defense cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to working together moving forward,” readout stated.
DND likewise announced that Teodoro met with Japanese Minister of Defense Nakatani Gen on sidelines of 18th ASEAN ADMM and 11th ADMM-Plus “to discuss ways to further strengthen defense partnership between two nations.”
“Both leaders underscored importance of deepening Phl-Japan relations, particularly in addressing shared security challenges in the region,” DND spokesman Director Arsenio Andolong said.
Discussions also focused on advancing mutual defense initiatives, including logistics, maritime security and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.
Leaders emphasized their collaboration within ASEAN frameworks, reflecting shared support for regional stability and peace,” he said.
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