An agreement between China and the 10-member ASEAN on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea remains far from being finalized, a Philippine diplomat said on Wednesday, despite the second reading of the draft nearing conclusion. READ:
“Honestly, I think we are still very far from concluding this document,” Foreign Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary and Executive Director for ASEAN Affairs Noel M. Novicio told a press conference.
“We have finalized the preambular part of this document, but I’d like to inform you that there is an unwritten agreement among ASEAN member states and China that nothing is finalized until everything is finalized,” he said. “We are confident that, of course, the negotiations will proceed next year, but I’d like to emphasize that it is a very delicate undertaking,” Mr. Novicio said. “We’re taking it very seriously. We are consulting with our experts.”
The diplomat said the long process could be attributed to the need to consider the position of several nations in terms of interpretation and application.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
North Korea fires more artillery shells into sea in response to South Korea drills —reportNorth Korea said on Tuesday it had ordered military units to fire more artillery shells into the sea, the North&39;s official KCNA news agency reported, in response to South Korea&39;s ongoing drills across the border.
Read more »
Indonesia parliament ratifies criminal code that bans sex outside marriage - BusinessWorld OnlineJAKARTA – Indonesia’s parliament on Tuesday approved a criminal code that bans sex outside marriage with a punishment of up to one year in jail, part of a raft of legal changes that critics say undermine civil liberties in the world’s third-largest democracy. The controversial new laws, which apply to Indonesians and foreigners alike, also include a […]
Read more »
EXPLAINER: Why is Indonesia’s new criminal code so controversial?Indonesia’s new criminal code ushers in a raft of new laws, including banning sex outside of marriage, insulting the president, and expressing any view that runs counter to state ideology. | Reuters
Read more »
Tourists 'think twice' about Indonesia following criminal code revisionsTravelers and businesses warn the new laws could deter foreigners from visiting or investing in Indonesia.
Read more »
EXPLAINER: Why is Indonesia's new criminal code so controversial?Indonesia’s new criminal code ushers in a raft of new laws, including banning sex outside of marriage, insulting the president, and expressing any view that runs counter to state ideology.
Read more »
Indonesia’s Parliament passes law criminalizing adultery - BusinessMirrorJAKARTA, Indonesia—Indonesia’s Parliament passed a long-awaited and controversial revision of its penal code Tuesday that criminalizes extramarital sex for citizens and visiting foreigners alike. After ratification, the new criminal code must be signed by the president, according to Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Hiariej. The criminal code will not apply immediately. He
Read more »