The Philippines welcomed the plan of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to finish the general framework of the Code of Conduct by June 2017. On Wednesday, China announced that it agreed with the Asean to finish by June 2017 the framework for a COC to resolve West Philippine Sea maritime disputes. However, it still insisted on finding a solution independent of Western intervention. In a press conference, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose, however, noted that the 10-member countries and China must soon draft detailed guidelines for settling clashing territorial claims on what the Asian superpower calls the South China Sea.

Fabunan, S. S. D. (2016, August 19). China wants Asian solution to sea row. Manila Standard, p. A2.