China vowed to bind itself to Code of Conduct in South China Sea —Duterte

China has agreed to having a code of conduct in the disputed features in the South China Sea, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Tuesday.

At a news conference after closing the 31st ASEAN Summit and related meetings, Duterte said China has also committed to binding itself to the provisions of the code.

"China has graciously agreed to a code of conduct. It binds itself to the agreement," Duterte said.

"And the overflight in space above and the use of the China Sea will proceed and it was a promise of China, unbridled, unfettered and we can use the space, I said," he added.

Duterte also said that in one of his conversations with an unnamed Chinese official, both of them said they didn't want to lose a single life over a body of water.

"And China said, 'Do not just hurry up. But we will consider really fast-tracking this Code of Conduct.' And maybe the reason why only now? Well, it’s only now that we have talked as claimants," he said.

ASEAN and China, following a meeting on Monday, announced the start of negotiations for a proposed code of conduct.

Duterte made the remark on the eve of the official visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

He also had a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping over the weekend in Danang, Vietnam.

Duterte raised the need for a code of conduct in the South China Sea with Xi, citing the concern of ASEAN member-states over the supposed militarization in the region.

China had been reported to have built new structures in the Paracel Islands—a group of islands claimed by both China and Vietnam.

The Philippines has also expressed concern if China's recently deployed sea dredger would be find its way to the West Philippine Sea. — NB/BAP, GMA News