Vietnam
East Sea - the first test of ASEAN in 2017
ASEAN Foreign Ministers Conference (AMM Retreat) is the first test for the solidarity of ASEAN in the year when Philippines will undertake the Presidency.
China illegally renovated at Mischief rock island, Truong Sa (Spratly islands) of Vietnam
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From February 19 - 21, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Pham Binh Minh and Foreign Ministers of ASEAN countries attended ASEAN Foreign Ministers Conference (AMM Retreat) in Bocaray, Philippines.
AMM Retreat discussed the establishment of the ASEAN Community, including the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision to 2025, international issues and fields of mutual interest. State Department Spokesman Charles Jose said Filipino, the top diplomats of ASEAN countries will come together to solve the many challenges that the region is facing, such as counter-terrorism, extremism, drug, the situation of human trafficking, the environment and climate change.
The viewpoint of the Philippines, ASEAN rotating Presidency, plays an important role
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Besides, an important sector which countries in the region are interested in is the construction of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea. In 2017, as ASEAN Presidency, the view of the Philippines in the East Sea issue has an important impact on accelerating the construction schedule of COC - the legal framework that is designed to stop the conflict in East Sea. Thus, AMM Retreat is considered as the first test for the Philippines and the remaining nine member countries of ASEAN to ensure the centrality of ASEAN solidarity and through adequately expressing the views of East Sea issue.
On the threshold of the summit, Malaysian media have urged officials to focus on ASEAN countries to discuss the central role and ASEAN solidarity, accelerated construction of COC and stressed the importance of the judgment which the Court Permanent Arbitration (PCA) launched in resolving East Sea issue.
The researchers confirmed the central role of ASEAN and the consistency of the blocks in the early conclusion of COC negotiations, supporting PCA ruling will be the key to the success of ASEAN. Agreed with the comments of the scholars of the countries in the region, Mr. Tran Viet Thai - Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic Studies, Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that a central role is vital in ASEAN. Mr. Thai said that ASEAN can only decide on the issue of regional police slopes as attracting investment, calling for support in the East Sea issue to maintain a central role. "As long as ASEAN retains a central role, the voice of the ASEAN remains the significance," Mr. Thai stressed. Have jointly stated that the construction of COC will be the ASEAN's focus this year, Mr. Thai said that countries should attempt to set rules that are the tool of ASEAN and countries in the region.
