China delaying code of conduct – LorenzanaBy The Manila Timeshome/News/Nation/China delaying code of conduct – LorenzanaDefense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Friday expressed hope that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China would be able to finalize in three years a binding Code of Conduct to address tensions in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). “I hope China fulfills its promise because it is actually China trying to delay this for the past six years already,” Lorenzana told reporters in a chance interview. “If we have this Code of Conduct, then we have assurance that we will do something in accordance with the conduct and then, there will be no misunderstanding and miscalculations,” Lorenzana said. He added that he prefers to have the code finished by next year since the issue not only involves the Philippines and China but other Asean countries. The Code of Conduct was discussed during the Asean meeting in Singapore in October.

Source: Manila Times December 07, 2018 17:15 UTC