Australia's vital trade interests in Southeast and North Asia require that countries in the region peacefully resolve their disputes, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said in a news conference. She specifically cited the need for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China to come up with a Code of Conduct (CoC) on the South China Sea (SCS). As such, she added that it is in Australia’s interest that freedom of navigation and of overflight on the South China Sea remain, for “unimpeded access of trade and people.”

de Guzman, L. N. P. (2017, March 17-18). Peace in South China Sea vital for Australian trade, foreign minister says. BusinessWorld, p. S1/2.