25 July 2016 – Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto R. Yasay Jr. rallied the foreign ministers participating in the 49th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Vientiane, Laos PDR to support a rules-based international order.
“The decision has provided a solid legal foundation on which a rules-based approach for resolving disputes in the South China Sea can be built,” he told his peers in the region from the 10 countries of South East Asia, the Philippines included. He added that the ruling has upheld international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Secretary Yasay pointed out that the decision has established jurisprudence on maritime disputes. “The ruling can move the dispute-settlement process forward” he pointed out. “The Philippines strongly affirms its respect for this milestone decision as an important
contribution to ongoing efforts in addressing disputes in the South China Sea.”
Earlier, Secretary Yasay said the Philippines welcomes the issuance on 12 July 2016 of the ruling constituted under Annex VII of the 1982 UNCLOS.
Secretary Yasay said an ASEAN statement supporting the legal and diplomatic processes being pursued by the Philippines towards the peaceful resolution of the dispute, without taking sides, would not only reflect ASEAN acknowledgment and respect for a rules-based order, but also will reaffirm ASEAN’s “centrality and solidarity in the regional security architecture that would enhance ASEAN’s voice and growing influence in the international community.”
He cited that the ruling is “final and binding to all parties concerned, is a clearly established fact” and that it has “significant implications for the entire region, not just the coastal states bordering the South China Sea.”
On another note, Secretary Yasay commented on ASEAN’s Regional Security Architecture. “It is the Philippines’ view,” he said, “that, rather than creating a new regional security mechanism, we should instead strengthen the existing ASEAN-led mechanisms so they can be more effective in addressing the various traditional and non-traditional security challenges before us.”
Secretary Yasay also underscored the crucial role of ASEAN among the community of member-states. “ASEAN must uphold and insist on its “centrality” in deciding and upholding the solidarity and oneness of its member countries.”
ASEAN must endeavor to manifest this unanimity by coming up with a unified ASEAN position on issues, interests, and cases crucial to ASEAN. ASEAN must seek mechanisms by which it expresses itself with one voice – upholding the country and the entire ASEAN.
These include ASEAN collective interests, priorities, and agenda vis-à-vis their policies and initiatives. On a more special note, ASEAN must effectively address the security challenges affecting the region, especially the on-going developments in the South China Sea.
The Philippines continues to exert best efforts and to show great flexibility towards the effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and we urge all parties concerned to do the same. All parties need to work expeditiously towards the adoption of an effective code of conduct (COC), and undertake activities that are in good faith and consistent with international law with the aim of advancing, not delaying, this process.
ASEAN’s effective response to the current developments in the region should continue to be guided by ASEAN’s adherence to the principles of democracy, the rule of law and good governance, and respect for and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. ASEAN must realize its vision of a Community that is rules-based, politically cohesive, economically integrated, and socially responsible. END