- Title: Philippines tells outsiders not to use ASEAN as "proxy" for rivalry
- Date: 23rd January 2017
- Summary: SINGAPORE (JANUARY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) PHILIPPINE DEFENCE MINISTER DELFIN LORENZANA SITTING ON STAGE LORENZANA STANDING UP FOR SPEECH LORENZANA SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) PHILIPPINE DEFENCE MINISTER, DELFIN LORENZANA, SAYING: "As the host to the leaders of the U.S., China, Japan, Russia and India, we will have to remind our friends, firmly if necessary, not to use ASEAN as a proxy for their rivalry. We will reaffirm the unity and solidarity of ASEAN amidst this emerging super-power competition." AUDIENCE LISTENING LORENZANA LISTENING TO QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (EngliSh) PHILIPPINE DEFENCE MINISTER DELFIN LORENZANA SAYING: "We have been trying to craft a code of conduct for the past many years but we haven't been successful. We will try to do that at this year, maybe put some more effort into having this code of conduct because the tension in that part of the world is rising and we don't want that to happen especially so that about five trillion worth of goods pass through that area every year." LORENZANA SHAKING HANDS WITH HOST
- Embargoed: 6th February 2017 15:01
- Keywords: Philippines ASEAN South China Sea security tensions
- Location: SINGAPORE
- City: SINGAPORE
- Country: Singapore
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00160AWAPX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The Philippines told countries outside southeast Asia on Monday (January 23) not to use the region as "a proxy for their rivalry" as it wanted to preserve unity and establish a mechanism to resolve disputes in the South China Sea.
The Philippines is chairman of the 10-member Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year and will host its annual meetings, some of which are joined by outside powers including China and the United States.
The issue of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, pitting China against several southeast Asian countries has in recent years emerged as a source of friction in the bloc.
Some ASEAN countries have taken positions on the issue in line with China, while others have been more suspicious of China's assertiveness, reflecting U.S. thinking.
Philippine defence minister Delfin Lorenzana told delegates from more than 20 countries at a security conference in Singapore that outside powers should not pursue their competition in the region.
ASEAN is drawing up a code of conduct in the hope of making sure all claimants follow legal and diplomatic processes in settling territorial disputes.
China has built several artificial islands in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, which an arbitration tribunal last year ruled unlawful.
With billions of dollars of potential Chinese trade and investment at stake, the Philippines has a difficult balancing act in upholding its sovereignty claims while staying on the better terms President Rodrigo Duterte has established with historic rival China.
On Monday (January 23), China agreed to cooperate with the Philippines on 30 projects worth $3.7 billion focusing on poverty reduction, the two countries said after a meeting in Beijing.
It marked the first announcement from a two-day visit by a Philippine cabinet delegation to China that comes three months after President Rodrigo Duterte visited Beijing to pave the way for new commercial alliances. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
