Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said on Friday (November 6) that the position of the Philippines to use international law to resolve territorial disputes in the South China Sea could have been strengthened if only the recent Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) defense ministers meeting managed to issue a joint declaration on Wednesday (November 4).
Gazmin, who was present during the meeting, said almost all defense ministers present wanted the territorial conflict in Spratly Islands to be resolved through the rule of law.
He said it only showed that other countries in the region supported the position of the Philippines in resolving the issue — the very reason why the Philippines filed an arbitration case against China before the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS).
Gazmin related that the group failed to issue a joint statement after the United States and China disagreed over how to address rival claims in the South China Sea.
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A joint statement was scrapped but a Chairman’s statement was issued which reflected everything that has been discussed including the South China Sea dispute and the creation of Code of Conduct, according to the Filipino Defense chief.