President Benigno S. C. Aquino III yesterday left for Brunei to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit where he will push for an early conclusion of a rules-based system to settle conflicting claims in the South China Sea. “Hihikayatin din natin ang ibang pinuno sa pagpapanday ng isang Code of Conduct (COC) sa lalong madaling panahon na kikilalanin at susundin ng lahat [We will encourage the other leaders to craft as soon as possible a Code of Conduct that will be recognized and followed by all],” Mr. Aquino said in a pre-departure speech before leaving for a two-day summit in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The COC will reinforce a declaration by claimant countries in 2002 against engaging in destabilizing activities in the resource-rich area. Besides the Philippines and China, the contested sea, a key shipping trade route, is also claimed in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.

Gonzales, N. M. (2013, April 25). Commitment to settle sea dispute expected. BusinessWorld, p. S1/11.