Former foreign secretary Albert del Rosario yesterday urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to make the South China Sea (SCS) ruling an “integral” part of the Code of Conduct framework and the eventual finished document. The Philippines’ former top diplomat said the position that China’s SCS build-up is a fait accompli should be rejected. While most states strive for a peaceful, rules-based regional order in Southeast Asia, Del Rosario said China’s unilateralism has put this common vision at grave risk. He urged ASEAN to be united in countering this challenge to its regional centrality and solidarity, noting that promoting the rule of law and strengthening multilateralism in support of the law must be key parts of ASEAN’s response.

Lee-Brago, P. (2017, April 26). Asean urged: make SCS ruling part of sea code. Philippine Star, p. 4.