MANILA: Southeast Asian leaders will express concern this week about an “escalation of activities” in the South China Sea but avoid directly criticizing China, according to the draft of a summit statement. However it did not mention China directly, nor an international tribunal’s ruling last year rejecting Beijing’s sweeping claims to the South China Sea, through which $5 trillion dollars in annual shipping trade passes. The draft also noted “progress” on a so-called framework agreement for a code of conduct on the South China Sea. Philippine diplomats have said the “framework” code of conduct might be completed by June, with China expressing optimism about the talks. “What’s the point of having a code of conduct if China has successfully militarised the South China Sea?” Renato de Castro, international studies professor at Manila’s De La Salle University, told Agence France-Presse.

Source: Manila Times April 26, 2017 07:52 UTC