ASEAN-China meet to tackle South China Sea dispute

SINGAPORE – The South China Sea issue will definitely be discussed in the 33rd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit and related meetings beginning today until Friday.

“As to the detail of the discussions, I cannot say. But for sure there’s going to be discussion on the South China Sea,” Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Junever Mahilum-West said at a pre-departure briefing. The issue would likely be taken up specifically in the ASEAN-China summit.

He also said the Philippines has assumed the “coordinatorship” of the ASEAN-China Dialogue partnership from this year until 2021.

The ASEAN-China summit takes place tomorrow at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Center. President Duterte is attending the event and has designated Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea as officer-in-charge (OIC) of government.

Last week, the Chinese foreign ministry revealed that Beijing is already operating a maritime observation center, a meteorological observatory and a national environmental and air quality monitoring station on man-made islands at the Kagitingan (Fiery Cross), Zamora (Subi) and Panganiban (Mischief) reefs.

Duterte was expected to arrive in Singapore last night to attend the summits.

The presidential delegation includes Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Social Welfare Secretary-designate Rolando Joselito Bautista and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr.

Meanwhile, Philippine Ambassador to Singapore Joseph del Mar Yap said President Duterte is looking forward to possible follow-up bilateral talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and US Vice-President Mike Pence on the sidelines of the summit. Xi is set to visit the Philippines next week. Pence is attending the ASEAN Summit to represent President Donald Trump.

“So there will be opportunities for President Duterte to meet up with them and discuss relevant issues with them,” he said.

Through Special Order 1265, the President designated Medialdea as OIC “to ensure continuity of government service” and “to take care of the day-to-day operations in the Office of the President and oversee the general administration of the executive department.” – With Alexis Romero