Two landmark agreements by members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that were initiated by the Philippines more than a decade ago would be sealed next week under Manila’s chairmanship of the 10-nation bloc this year. A centerpiece for the Nov. 13-14 Asean Summit in Manila, the second this year, would be the announcement of the start of substantive negotiations with China for a Code of Conduct (COC) that seeks to prevent the escalation of the maritime dispute in the South China Sea. “We expect the leaders to announce the (start of the) negotiations but the actual start of the negotiations will probably happen sometime next year,” said Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar.

Pazzibugan, D. Z. (2017, November 12). 2 major PH-initiated agreements up for signing by Asean leaders. Philippine Daily Inquirer, p. A2.