The bloc also welcomed practical measures that could lower tensions and the risk of accidents, misunderstandings, and miscalculations in the region.
"We stressed the importance of undertaking confidence-building and preventive measures to enhance, among others, trust and confidence amongst parties, and we reaffirmed the importance of upholding the international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS," according to a joint statement of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers.
The statement was conveyed in the Joint Communiqué of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM).
The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 is a comprehensive law and regulation on the world's oceans and seas establishing rules governing all uses of the oceans and their resources.
It was also stated that the ASEAN welcomed the progress achieved so far in the ongoing negotiations on the CoC in the South China Sea, including the completion of the second reading of the Single Draft COC Negotiating Text (SDNT) and encouraged continued positive momentum.
"We looked forward to the adoption of the Guidelines for Accelerating the Early Conclusion of an Effective and Substantive Code of Conduct in the South China Sea at the PMC Plus One Session with China on July 13, 2023, and encouraged efforts to make full use of the Guidelines," according to the statement.
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The statement said that the ASEAN looked forward to the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC that is in accordance with the international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS.
The ASEAN also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety, and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea and recognized the benefits of having the South China Sea as a sea of peace, stability, and prosperity.
They also underscored the importance of the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in its entirety.
"We emphasized the importance of non-militarization and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea," the statement said.
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Reporter: Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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