Tolentino wants Unclos-backed Code of Conduct on South China Sea

For Senate Majority Leader Francis ‘Tol’ Tolentino, it is time for the Philippines to move to secure the untapped energy resources within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), particularly at the Talampas ng Pilipinas.

MANILA, Philippines – Reelectionist Sen. Francis Tolentino wants to see a concluded Code of Conduct in the South China Sea that upholds both the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the 2016 Arbitral Award.

China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are in talks for a substantive COC, which will serve as a set of rules to manage tension between claimant states in the disputed sea lane.

“Let it be a code of conduct compliant with the law of the sea convention. Let it be a code of conduct that would support and uphold the 2016 Hague arbitral ruling. And let it be a code of conduct that would support the Philippine maritime zones law,” Tolentino said during the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas press conference in Batangas City on Saturday.

READ: Tolentino bares evidence of China troll farm to discredit PH gov’t

Senatorial candidate and ACT-CIS Rep. Erwin Tulfo, for his part, underscored the need for the Philippines to take on a tougher stance to complement with the COC.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo earlier confirmed that China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are both “politically committed” in concluding the code by 2026.

After years of negotiations, the two parties have yet to address important issues on the possible COC, including its scope and whether it would be legally binding, which would differentiate it from the existing 2002 Declaration of Conduct on the South China Sea.