by Vivienne Gulla, ABS-CBN News Posted at Jun 23 2019 02:59 PM

BANGKOK, Thailand — Southeast Asian leaders have committed to fast-track the completion of an effective code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea, in the wake of the ramming of a Filipino fishing boat by a Chinese vessel in Recto (Reed) Bank.

They made the commitment in the ASEAN Leaders’ Vision Statement on Partnership for Sustainability, which was adopted by member states during the ASEAN Summit plenary Saturday.

 The document states that leaders agreed to “work actively towards the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and the early conclusion of an effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).”

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was expected to push for the completion of SCS code of conduct in the ASEAN Summit, after he said he would “talk lengthily” about China’s sweeping claims over the South China Sea. Read more…