ASEAN, China eye 2022 as new target to conclude talks on South China Sea COC: source

MANILA - Amid continuing Chinese incursions in Philippine waters in the South China Sea, Southeast Asian nations and China underscore the need for an "environment conducive" for negotiations on the proposed Code of Conduct in the sea that, according to a diplomatic source on Wednesday, they hope to conclude next year.

“We reaffirmed that the DOC is a milestone document that embodies the collective commitment to promote peace, stability, mutual trust and confidence in the region, in accordance with international law, including 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ,” the statement read. In 2019, at the outset of a summit with ASEAN leaders in Bangkok, Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang said his country was eager to map out the code of conduct with ASEAN by 2021.

"Physical meetings would remain the primary modality, towards the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC that is in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS," it added. China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea has been adjudged as having no legal basis by a UN-backed arbitration court in 2016. The Philippines initiated the arbitration after its bilateral negotiations with China over its incursions beginning 2012 yielded negative results.

Expanding vaccine cooperation and promoting “equitable access to and accelerate production and distribution of safe, effective, quality and affordable vaccines for all” were also discussed in light of the prevailing pandemic.

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