MANILA: Rodrigo Duterte recently called on Asean member countries to respect the rule of law and exercise self-restraint to avoid escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
The Philippine president, speaking at the 36th Asean summit via video conferencing, urged member nations to resolve the dispute amicably.
According to the Manila Times, he called on parties to refrain from escalating tensions and abide by responsibilities under international law, notably the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos).
"We urge all parties to adhere to the rule of law and to their commitments to international instruments, including the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea."
As country coordinator for Asean-China dialogues, Duterte admitted facing "constraints in dealing with the deliverables", but noted, "We must also not lose sight of the strategic interest in the South China Sea.
"We must find innovative ways and exercise flexibility to achieve our common goals," he said.
"We remain committed to work closely with member states and China towards the early conclusion of an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea."
Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. later said the other Asean leaders also pushed for the early conclusion of the code of conduct in the South China Sea to reduce tension in the region.
"There are several Asean leaders who also mentioned the South China Sea and said that we really need to focus our attention to the finalisation of the sea code in the South China Sea so that we can avoid conflict," he said.
The proposed set of rules governing the conduct of parties in the disputed waterway is being negotiated by Asean and China.
China claims almost the entire South China Sea and has stepped up reclamation works and military installations in the area in recent years, drawing protests from other claimant nations.
Four Asean members, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam, also have claims in the area.
Duterte recently raised Manila's 2016 victory in the arbitration court on the South China Sea dispute during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying it was final, binding and not subject to appeal.
The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration has nullified China's nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea.
The Chinese leader, however, still refused to recognise the arbitration ruling.