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ASEAN MEDIA FORUM

3 yrs. to finish South China Sea code? Thai exec says it might take longer


BANGKOK—The Code of Conduct (COC) to manage maritime and territorial disputes in the South China Sea might take more than three years to finish, longer than the time frame hoped for by China, an advisor to the Thailand Foreign Affairs Minister said.

“They are trying it in three years but it can probably get longer,” Pornpimol Kanchanalak, advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand on ASEAN and current global challenges, said on the sidelines of the 3rd ASEAN Media Forum Monday.

She did not elaborate on the challenges being faced in the drafting of the negotiating text for the Code of Conduct but just said “there is no unanimous kind of decision on it yet.”

She also cannot say yet if the Code of Conduct would be a legally binding document.

“I don’t know yet. It is difficult, we have three years away from that,” she said.

Pornpimol Kanchanalak, advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand on ASEAN and current global challenges (right), with Pichai Chuensuksawasdi, former Bangkok Post editor in chief and ASEAN Media Forum moderator. AMITA LEGASPI
Pornpimol Kanchanalak, advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand on ASEAN and current global challenges (right), with Pichai Chuensuksawasdi, former Bangkok Post editor in chief and ASEAN Media Forum moderator. AMITA LEGASPI


Thailand is the current chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Tension between the ASEAN member-countries, including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China had erupted several times in the past as the latter claims the whole South China Sea through the so-called nine-dash line.

For years, the ASEAN and China have sought to come up with a code to govern the disputes.

In November last year, China expressed hope the Code will be finished in three years and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said he would “try his best” to expedite the conclusion of negotiations.

The Philippines is currently the dialogue coordinator between China and the ASEAN on the COC.

Kanchanalak sees nothing wrong with the pace with which the Code of Conduct is being formulated.

“There is nothing wrong with going one step forward and two step backwards, at least someone steps forward, at least we keep moving,” she told reporters.

She also said the ASEAN is willing to take time to finish the Code of Conduct.

“Flashpoints are always there and they will continue but ASEAN has to rise above it. There is threat, real and unreal, perception as well… but  everybody knows, every country knows we have to co-exist with the others,” she said. — MDM, GMA News

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