MANILA, Philippines — Given China’s increased activities in the South China Sea, the Philippines and Vietnam are calling for the immediate crafting and implementation of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the disputed region. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was in Vietnam Monday for a bilateral meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, Minister of National Defense Ngyo Xuan Lich. We both agreed that the COC should be pursued and concluded in the fastest time possible,” Lorenzana said. “China’s next plan is to occupy Thitu Island (Pag-asa Island) and my government is really worried,” a security analyst based in Hanoi said. “The Philippine side pledged to support Vietnam in hosting military-defense conference and activities when Vietnam takes over the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2020,” the Hanoi media reported.

Source: Philippine Star March 15, 2019 16:00 UTC