The UNCLOS favored the Philippine position in its territorial dispute with China at the South China Sea, also called West Philippine Sea.
In a 9-page resolution, the defense ministers who gathered here for their 31st annual meeting also cited the “need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation and pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea.”
The resolution reaffirmed “the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and over-flight above the South China Sea.”
It also emphasized “the importance of self-restraint in the conduct of all activities as well as the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety and welcome the conclusion and adoption of the framework of a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.”
