The Philippines expects the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation’s 50th anniversary to be a highlight of its ASEAN chairmanship, Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said. (Free Malaysia Today)
On January 22, the Philippines Foreign Ministry stated that it seeks to ratify the Code of Conduct (COC) with China on the South China Sea. As ASEAN chair, the Philippines pushes for ‘further and deeper discussion’ among member states to acquire a legally binding code, sourced from the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
This effort indicates a confirmation of territorial integrity through the COC, as often times, Manila and Beijing come across tensions along the disputed areas.
About The Author
