Code Of Conduct Should Be Extended To Other Parties, Not Only China

By Mohd Razman Abdullah KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 (Bernama) -- The declaration of the Code of Conduct (CoC) in the South China Sea should be extended to other parties and not only conclusive between China and ASEAN members. Director of ASEAN Studies Centre, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Gajah Mada University of Indonesia Dr Dafri Agussalim said it was imperative for the declaration to be extended to Japan, Taiwan and the United States (US) in putting the South China Sea dispute to an end. "As we can see, China is not the only party involved in the dispute. But we could see that the US and other related parties are also involved in the matter. "Thus, to ensure peace in the region, other parties should also be involved in signing the CoC," he told Bernama here Tuesday. Dr Dafri is one of the five speakers discussing the 'security dimension - maritime security and cooperation: prerequisites for successful outcomes' at the 2nd Network of ASEAN-China Think Tank seminar here. The director of the Institute of Asian Studies of the China Foreign Affairs University Prof Dr Wei Ling said it was important for the CoC to be institutionalised in order to avoid any conflict in the future. China would always want the ASEAN region to be in peaceful situation as any conflict could bring negative impact on the relationship of both parties as well as their economy. "War is not an option. War is politically incorrect in resolving territorial dispute," she said. ASEAN member countries and China signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DoC) in 2002, a fundamental document for maintaining peace and stability in the South China Sea. In the declaration, among others, the parties concerned reaffirmed that the adoption of a code of conduct (CoC) in the South China Sea would further promote peace and stability in the region and agreed to work, on the basis of consensus, towards the eventual attainment of this objective. Kuala Lumpur has emphasised on the need to expeditiously work towards an early conclusion of the COC in the South China Sea. The issue of South China Sea is very relevant and important not only to ASEAN member states, but also to the world at large because as a vital sea lane, it is important to ensure the freedom of navigations and safe passage. More than 100,000 cargo ships sail through the South China Sea every year. -- BERNAMA