President Benigno S. Aquino III
called on his fellow Southeast Asian leaders to synchronize their regional and
national priorities in line with the implementation of the ‘One Community’
concept of regional integration in 2015.
Communications Secretary Herminio
Coloma, Jr. issued the statement following President Aquino’s intervention
during the 26th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit at the
Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
He said President Aquino reiterated
the Philippines’ call for the ASEAN to take a common stand to protect freedom
of navigation and commerce in the South China Sea, especially in light of
China’s recent massive reclamation activities in disputed territories, which
pose a threat to the region’s security and peace.
“He (President Aquino) said that
ASEAN centrality should now be clearly demonstrated by ‘expeditiously
concluding a legally binding Code of Conduct with China’ that would implement
the salient provisions of the declaration made in 2012 by China and ASEAN
member countries with claims to maritime entitlements in the South China Sea,”
Secretary Coloma said.
According to the President, China’s
reclamation activities “are direct violations of the DOC (Declaration of
Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea) and the UNCLOS (United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea)” and “cause irreparable loss and damage to
the marine environment, threatening the livelihood of people living in the
coastal communities.”
President Aquino cited paragraph 5
of the DOC, which states:
“The Parties undertake to exercise
self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate
disputes and affect peace and stability including, among others, refraining
from action of inhabiting on the presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals,
cays, and other features and to handle their differences in a constructive
manner.”
President Aquino also thanked
various members of the international community, including the Group of Seven
(G7) countries, for taking a clear stand and for their calls to action in
response to these illegal reclamations.
“President Aquino also called for
heightened vigilance to curb ‘the rise of religious fanaticism and extremism in
the Middle East’ and reiterated the Philippines’ support for United Nations
Security Council Resolution 2178 on foreign terrorism,” Coloma added.
President Aquino said this should be
implemented to prevent the spread of terror-related crimes perpetrated by the
Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and similar groups.
He said that there is also a need to
assist peoples caught up in humanitarian emergencies, such as those in Yemen
and Libya.
President Aquino further urged ASEAN
member states to work toward the conclusion of the Regional Comprehensive
Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations this year by concentrating on the core
issues covering trade in goods and services, investments, and economic
cooperation.
He acknowledged the support of
Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia in the negotiations that led to the
Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, and advocated the use of a
grassroots-based, multi-stakeholder approach to peace-building and
reconciliation initiatives, Coloma said.
Noting that 2015 is also the
terminal year of the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs),
President Aquino called for intensified efforts to eradicate poverty and foster
inclusive growth as part of a collective vision of a post-2015 ASEAN Community,
Coloma added.
President Aquino also advocated the
initiation of accepting Timor-Leste as the 11th member state of the ASEAN and
granting formal status to Norway as a dialogue partner. (PCOO News Release)
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