ASEAN group to form coalition for South China Sea

Last November, Chinese coast guard vessels used water cannons to prevent Philippine boats en route to resupply troops stationed at a wrecked ship in Ayungin Shoal. The shoal is located within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. The zones parameters were upheld in 2016 in a ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) dismissing China’s nine-dash-line claim over almost all of the South China Sea.

The incident at Ayungin Shoal set forth more diplomatic protests from Manila. Philippine Foreign Secretary, Teodoro Locsin Jr., stated that it underscored the urgency of completing the Code of Conduct (COC) that the ASEAN was negotiating with China. According to him, it was a framework that “went nowhere.”

The proposed COC is intended to provide mechanisms to avoid miscalculations and manage tensions to prevent skirmishes around the contested area. Based on a report published by The Diplomat, the Philippines proposed a provision in the COC calling for the “respect of the exercise of traditional fishing rights by fishermen…[and] access to features and fishing grounds.”

In light of Locsins statements, four analysts and observers raised the need for a coalition within ASEAN in separate interviews with the PCIJ. According to them, a smaller group should be composed of four ASEAN member-states with claims in the South China Sea: The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. Additionally, Indonesia may be considered part of the group as they have some claim to Natuna Islands.

“The best that I could see happening would be if the claimant states acted independently of ASEAN. Minilateralism is the only way forward,” said Zachary Abuza, an expert on Southeast Asia at the US National War College in Washington.

Former Justice, Antonio Carpio, has said that the ASEAN’s decision-making process has shackled the 10-member bloc.

“The five ASEAN coastal states prejudiced by China’s nine-dash line should form a coalition of the willing to oppose China’s hegemony and bullying in the South China Sea,” Carpio said.

“The most urgent concern is for ASEAN to demand that China respect the maritime zones of the five ASEAN coastal states as guaranteed under UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), to which China and all ASEAN coastal states are parties,” he added.

Source: Rappler