The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China have agreed to exercise self-restraint and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation in the South China Sea, amid Beijing’s continued reclamation activities and apparent arming of artificial islands in the disputed waters. In a common statement read by President Rodrigo Duterte during the Asean-China meeting in Singapore on Wednesday, Southeast Asian leaders and China reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the South China Sea as tensions continue to grip the disputed sea. “Asean and China continue to reaffirm the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight,” Duterte said.

Valente, C. S. (2018, November 15). Leaders agree to self-restraint in disputed sea. Manila Times, pp. A1, A2.