Southeast Asia’s top diplomats will seek talks “as soon as possible” on a proposed non-aggression pact with China aimed at preventing clashes in the South China Sea and will likely hold back on criticism of China’s aggressive acts in the disputed waters in a weekend summit. An initial draft of a joint communiqué to be issued by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers, which was seen by The Associated Press says they would ask senior diplomats to immediately initiate talks on the so-called code of conduct in the disputed sea after their governments agreed on a framework of the accord with China in May. The ASEAN ministers will ask their senior diplomats “to begin earnest discussions on a substantive and effective code of conduct on the basis of the framework as soon as possible,” according to the draft communiqué.

Associated Press. (3, August 2017). ASEAN seeks talks with China for non-aggression pact soonest. Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 8.