A landmark breakthrough in resolving the battle of sovereignty claims in the hotly-disputed Spratly Islands was hailed yesterday as a genuine move towards ensuring regional and global security.
Under the agreement -- struck between the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China -- all parties would refrain from activities that would escalate tensions in the South China Seas.
It would also call on all countries to help any person in distress in an area that has proved prone to military skirmishes over the past two decades.
Taiwan, however, which also claims the islands was not a party to the talks.
ASEAN Secretary General Rodolfo Severino told reporters the declaration of conduct was reached Friday after last-minute consultations before this year's ASEAN summit that begins tomorrow.
"Basically, we are saying that pending the resolution of the jurisdictional and territorial disputes, this is how we should behave: We should not occupy uninhabited land features [in the South China Sea]," Severino told reporters.
ASEAN's chief spokesman, M.C. Abad, went further saying the agreement, to be signed here Nov. 4, would help de-escalate tensions in the region.
"It is the concerned states' important contribution to the cause of regional and global peace," Abad said.
The agreement was made after marathon negotiations chaired by Chem Widhya, permanent secretary from Cambodia's foreign ministry.
Four ASEAN countries at the center of the disputes -- Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam -- reached an agreement on the common text on Oct. 11, he said.
The remaining six ASEAN members -- Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore and Thailand -- approved the text on Oct. 31. China gave its agreement on Friday.
It is believed the archipelago sits on top of vast reserves of oil and gas, although their commercial potential has never been confirmed. The islands also flank international shipping lanes.
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