Southeast Asian countries see China's installation of weapons systems in the South China Sea as unsettling and want to prevent militarization, urging dialogue to stop "recent developments" from escalating, Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. said yesterday. Yasay also said foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were unanimous in their concern about Beijing's reclamation and militarization of manmade islands in the disputed region. The ministers also reaffirmed the importance of mutual trust and confidence, avoiding actions that may further complicate the situation, and pursuing peaceful resolution of disputes, including full respect for legal and diplomatic processes without resorting to the threat or use of force in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.

Brago, P. L. (2017, February 22). ‘Asean concerned over reclamation in disputed seas’. Philippine Star, p. 9.