Expressing “serious concern” over recent incidents in the South China Sea, President Duterte urged yesterday fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly parties to the South China Sea dispute, to refrain from escalating tension and abide with their responsibilities under international law. Participating in the 36th ASEAN Summit held via video conference, Duterte specifically mentioned the need to abide by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). In the midst of ongoing rivalry between the US and China, Duterte called for ASEAN to remain united and defend “an open and rules-based international order that gives all countries – large or small – not just one voice, but an equal standing.”

Mendez, C. (2020, June 27). Rody on SCS: Avoid escalating tension.The Philippine Star, pp. 1, 4.