DFA chief attending Asean ministers’ retreat in Malaysia today

MANILA, Philippines - Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario will attend the two-day Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)’s Foreign Ministers’ Retreat in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia beginning today.

Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) spokesman Charles Jose said Del Rosario will go straight to Malaysia from Saudi Arabia after personally conveying the condolences of President Aquino on the passing of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Earlier, Del Rosario said the South China Sea is a major topic in the agenda because it concerns the peace and stability of the region.

“We are looking at ASEAN in terms of centrality, posture to be able to ensure peace and stability. We hope ASEAN will move together in terms of ensuring that there is full and effective implementation of the DOC and the early, and I emphasize early, conclusion of the COC,” he said, referring to the declaration of a code of conduct in the South China Sea.

Del Rosario said he will brief the ASEAN foreign ministers on the advanced stage of China’s reclamation in the South China Sea and other concerns on China’s activities in the disputed waters if they ask him.

“Only if they ask,” he said.

“I think they will talk about the massive reclamation that we are seeing, the perceived threats that it presents in terms of implications in the freedom of navigation and rising of tensions which is obviously in violation of the DOC.”