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Duterte's duty: Unite ASEAN and push for early Code of Conduct in the South China Sea
ASEAN leaders must jointly make a strong point that all disputes in the SCS must be solved peacefully based on international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
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In this Oct. 26, 2016 file photo, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech at the Philippine Economic Forum in Tokyo. Philippine police killed a town mayor in his jail cell in a purported gunbattle on Saturday, Nov. 5, the second killing in a week of a politician linked to illegal drugs under President Duterte's brutal crackdown. (AP/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
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fter a five decade long journey, unity and solidarity remain a challenge for the dynamic 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). A key reason for this is the South China Sea (SCS) conundrum, which has become the single biggest threat to ASEAN unity, peace and stability.
ASEAN formed a community under three pillars: ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC), the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) and the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC). But a community without unity and little solidarity among its members is useless.
Outside powers can easily exploit any holes in ASEAN to divide its members on key issues such as the SCS, maritime security and freedom of navigation.
This week, ASEAN leaders have a golden opportunity to lay a historic foundation for political unity when they meet in Manila for the 30th ASEAN Summit.
The current ASEAN chair, the Philippines, and its popular leader President Rodrigo Duterte, have a moral obligation to cement ASEAN unity, promote solidarity and push forward the much needed Code of Conduct (COC) in the SCS.
President Duterte has selected the theme “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World” for the Philippines’ ASEAN chairmanship. The title reflects his 2016 election campaign slogan, “Change is Coming.”
Duterte must bring change to ASEAN, while maintaining the grouping’s central role in regional affairs. Though the new president is new to ASEAN politics, the Philippines have twice hosted ASEAN Summits in 1987 in Manila and in 2007 in Cebu.
