Regional maritime disputes will again be on the agenda when the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) holds summits in Manila, the Department of Foreign (DFA) said on Thursday. Speaking to reporters in Malacañang, Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Enrique Manalo said the territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) will be discussed during the Asean summit, but the main focus would be the adoption of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea “by the end of the year.” “The issue of the South China Sea, of course, is in the agenda of the Asean. In fact, we will be undertaking ongoing work throughout the year focusing on the unfinished Code of Conduct of the South China Sea and the Declaration of the Code of Conduct and the principles of the Code of Conduct,” Manalo said.

Valente, C. S. (2017, January 6). DFA: Sea row on Manila Asean summit agenda. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A8.