Asean and Chinese leaders pledged to exercise self-restraint when dealing with the South China Sea issue in a joint statement issued after a summit of leaders in Vientiane on Wednesday (Sept 7). Officials said they were taken September 3 in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal, a rocky outcrop that China seized from the Philippines in 2012.
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A Philippine security official said Duterte wanted to meet with China to resolve the issue, noting that the government had to take into consideration the plight of local fishermen whose traditional fishing grounds include Scarborough Shoal.
There is an existing Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea between ASEAN and China but this is not legally binding, something the Philippines has been pushing.
“I can tell you that there has not been any change to the Huangyan Island situation”.
“It will help us in the movements of the Philippine Coast Guard like patrol missions”, Balilo added.
The regional summit is being attended by the prime minister of China, although it is not an Asean member.
According to Abella, it was “admirable” how the President handled the conversation he had with his fellow heads of state during the Asean-China summit.
China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts or all of the resource-rich South China Sea.
The dispute has drawn in the United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines.
Obama is also in Laos for the regional meetings, which will conclude on Thursday with an East Asia summit.
Leaders from the two sides reaffirmed in the statement their commitment to CUES in order to improve operational safety of naval ships and naval aircraft in air and at sea, and ensure mutual trust.
Although the Scarborough Shoal is merely a few rocks poking above the sea, it is important to the Philippines because of the fish stocks in the area.
A draft ASEAN communique seen by Reuters on Monday listed eight points related to the South China Sea, but made no mention of the arbitration ruling.
According to the recent global tribunal ruling, the Chinese-controlled Scarborough Shoal does not belong to any country and that the area is the traditional fishing ground of Chinese, Filipino, and Vietnamese fishermen.
The bloc traditionally shies away from taking a position on thorny diplomatic issues, especially where China is concerned, because of its influence in the region.
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The Philippines is concerned that China may plan to turn the shoal into another man-made island.
