What we’re saying is that (the situation in the South China Sea) cannot be resolved by the Philippines and China alone,” Cayetano told radio station dzBB in Filipino. He said other claimants have their own installations in the South China Sea and “you have the West having their navies sail through the area.”“All claimants (to the South China Sea), like Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, must also talk among themselves,” he added. Cayetano is hoping that the Code of Conduct (COC) between the 10-member ASEAN and China on the South China Sea will be forged soon before tensions escalate. Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said the chamber should conduct an inquiry on China’s deployment of missiles in Philippine-claimed territories in South China Sea. The South China Sea (West Philippine Sea) is a major passageway for ships from various countries conducting trade around the world, according to Robredo.

Source: Philippine Star May 06, 2018 15:56 UTC