Asean, China expected to endorse COC framework in South China Sea

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DFA spokesperson Robespierre Bolivar said the draft COC Framework in the disputed waters that would be formally endorsed this week was approved by senior officials from the Southeast Asian bloc and Chinese government last May.

"Since last year, we have a commitment from Asean and China to complete this framework and this is already a major step towards realizing the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea," Bolivar told a press con f er en ce.

“The framework basically presents an outline of the Code of Conduct. So after it is endorsed, after the approval’s process has been done, dealt with, we expect that the talks on the actual Code of Conduct will begin in earnest,” he added.

Bolivar said the proposed framework for the code of conduct in the South China Sea was not just legally-binding but was also “effective” as it covers the interests of sea claimants.

He, however, said that the framework might not contain the arbitral court's ruling that backed the petition of the Philippines against China's invalid nine-dash line claims.

"There's no specific mentionof[rulingontheSouth China Sea], if I'm not mistaken. I haven't seen the actual, to tell you honestly. But the general endings, it’s an outline, the nature of the Code of Conduct, what principles govern the behaviors of [the nations]. I would think it’s something more generic so there’s no specific mention [of the arbitral ruling]," Bolivar said.

"In broad strokes, definitely, there’s an identification of the legal basis. What are we trying to accomplish in terms of the legal basis [of the COC]? And then the principles of the law of the seas. And then perhaps, a statement on how countries should behave in the region," the DFA spokesman added.

Four Asean memberstates – Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam – are claiming parts of the South China Sea, vast waters rich of mineral and oil deposits. China and Taiwan, on the other hand, are claiming most of its feat ur es.

The endorsement of COC framework came amid Asean leaders' subdued joint statement in April as they refused to contest China’s reclamation and militarization activities in the disputed waters.

The framework for a legally-binding COC is meant to address the disputes among the four Asean nations and China. ’No security threats' From August 2 to 8, the 50th Asean ministerial and post-ministerial conferences will be simultaneously held in the Philippine International Convention Center and Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

Bolivar said foreign ministers and senior officials from 27 nations will arrive in Manila to grace the event.

National Capital Region Police Office director Oscar David Albayalde said the authorities already laid measures to foil any security threats from various terrorist groups.

Albayalde said around 13,000 uniformed personnel would be deployed to ensure the safety and security of about 1,700 participants in the Asean meeting.

Albayalde made an assurance that there was no reported presence of Maute terror group, who is currently engaged in a battle with government troops in Marawi City.

He added that the security personnel was continuously monitoring "critical areas" that might serve as lairs or safe houses of suspected threat groups purportedly roving around Metro Manila, such as former members of Alex Boncayao Brigade (ABB) extremist group.

"With all our efforts, we are very much ready to secure the leaders, the ministers coming here," the Manila police chief said.

"As of this time, so far, there’s no threat, although we are monitoring the critical areas these critical areas, the enclaves we’re sayi ng.

And we are monitoring some groups who are actually present here in Metro Manila, who are Balik Islam and other former members of the ABB. So these are all being monitored in relation to this meeting," he added.