China committed to work with ASEAN on Code of Conduct – Ambassador Zhao

China is committed to work with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in crafting the code of conduct in the South China Sea to keep peace and stability in the region, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said on Wednesday.

The ambassador affirmed China's resolve to settle the disputes through peaceful means, hoping there will be "further progress" in maintaining regional peace.

"Rest assured China is committed to peacefully settle the disputes we have and we are working very well in managing our differences," Zhao said in an interview with reporters at the Palace.

"In the meantime, we are working on the COC, Code of Conduct, and the Filipino side is the country coordinator for China-ASEAN relationship so we are hoping that we can make further progress in our joint efforts to maintain peace and stability in

the South China Sea," he added.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, stepping up reclamation works in the area in recent years. Four ASEAN members – the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam, also have claims in the area.

In 2017, ASEAN and China agreed on the framework of the long-mooted code of conduct to prevent the escalation of tension in the disputed waterway. The negotiations for the final COC have started in a bid to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed back in 2002.

Meantime, Zhao said they would verify reports that Chinese vessels were driving away Filipino fishermen near Pag-asa Island.

"Whether it is authentic or not, it is something subject to clarification. I read in the newspaper also that your Secretary of National Defense has already denied the there was no such thing that happened in that area," he said.

"We are checking and we are in close coordination with DFA and we will be checking whether it is true or not," he added.