23 August 2016 — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) highlighted the Philippines’ call for full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, including arbitration, in a briefing for members of the diplomatic corps on the outcomes of recent ASEAN Meetings. The briefing was held on August 19 at the DFA Building, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City.
Members of the diplomatic corps were briefed on the outcomes of the recent ASEAN Meetings, including the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Related Meetings held on July 19-26, 2016 and the 13th ASEAN-China Senior Officials’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) on August 15-16 in Manzhouli, China.
DFA officials underscored the advocacies advanced by the Philippines in the abovementioned meetings, including: 1) the early conclusion of the ASEAN Instrument for the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers; 2) ratification of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity; 3) realization of a Drug-Free ASEAN; 4) full denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula; 5) strengthening regional cooperation to address terrorism and violent extremism; 6) pushing for full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, which includes arbitration; and, 9) peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.
DFA officials also briefed the attendees of the Philippines’ priority areas for its Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2017. END