China spoke at the ASEAN Summit Thursday and urged the ASEAN to finish the code of conduct over the South China Sea by 2021.

       There is an existing draft tentatively called the “Single Draft COC Negotiating Text” which apparently has not moved forward.

     Suggestion: The Philippines should not forget to reference the PCA Arbitral Award either in Section 2 of said draft or in the article on “dispute settlement”, or elsewhere — in language that can be easily approved by the parties.

     (just out of an “abundance of caution”, so we won’t lose what we’ve worked arduously for.)

     (i’m also not sure what the status in law would be of the final Single Draft COC Negotiating Text )

    In the meantime, we are trying to resolve the pandemic.

(File photo: from the archives)