PH envoy hopes for fast resolution of Asean security issues

FILE: Her Excellency Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon, Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand, gives an overview on the significance of this year’s 34th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit that shall be attended by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte along with other leaders of the ASEAN Member States on June 22-23, 2019. (Photo Screengrab from RTVMalacanang/Youtube)

NONTHABURI, Thailand — The Philippine ambassador to Thailand has highlighted the need for the immediate resolution of regional security issues to ensure sustained economic expansion in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

The Code of Conduct in the South China Sea is expected to be among the topics that will be discussed during the Asean-China Summit on Sunday.

Relatively, regional and international issues will also be discussed during the 14th East Asia Summit, scheduled on Monday, by officials from the Asean and their counterparts from China, the US, India, Republic of Korea, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.

“I do not wish to preempt what the President (Rodrigo Duterte) may say at his intervention but he is expected to participate in the discussions on important issues, such as regional security,” Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Thailand Mary Jo A. Bernardo-Aragon said.

She explained that “as a country coordinator for the Asean-China Dialogue, I believe it is to the interest of Asean that we look forward to an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.”

“I think this will greatly help reduce tension in the region which is — that should be conducive to the sustained economic growth of the region, which is a common interest to all Asean member countries,” he said.

“So we try to look at it in that aspect to conclude — to have an early conclusion on the Code of Conduct. We see some progress in the talks and there are continuing talks for an early conclusion of the CoC,” she added.

The Philippine government has supported the call for the institution of a binding Code of Conduct for the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) signed by China and Asean member-country officials in 2002.

Meanwhile, Bernardo-Aragon cited that stronger relations between Asean member countries and their trading partners have further solidified economic growth in the region, which is why she is hoping for the immediate resolution of the trade issues between the US and China.

“We do take note of some progress in their bilateral talks and we look forward to an early conclusion of their issues,” he said.

“Asean — and of course, the Philippines included — place(s) great importance to a well-functioning, multilateral trading system. So it is extremely important that the two major economies would be able to resolve their trade issues. And this is for the benefit of our peoples in the region and especially for the Philippines,” she added.