South Korean defense minister bats for binding code of conduct amid sea row

MANILA, Philippines - South Korean defense minister Han Minkoo is looking forward to the completion of a binding code of conduct for parties in the South China Sea even as he called on claimants to respect each other as they try to resolve the territorial row.

Han noted that the South China Sea is important for South Korea since 90 percent of its petroleum trade and 30 percent of its total trade passes through the area.

“It is my stance that the relevant nations surrounding this area and this situation should solve this situation based on mutual respect towards each other’s sovereignty and mutual cooperation and mutual understanding of each nation’s perspective,” Han said in a press conference in Camp Aguinaldo on Monday.

“I also believe that parties should act in accordance with the DOC (Declaration of Conduct) that has already been made and I also look forward, hope to the speedy conclusion of the code of conduct concerning the South China Sea,” he added.

South China Sea, which the Philippines calls the West Philippine Sea, is a busy sea lane where through which more than $5 trillion worth of trade passes through every year.

China claims virtually the entire potentially oil-and-gas-rich area while the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

In 2002, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in a bid to resolve the territorial row peacefully.

The declaration bars any claimant from engaging in any activity that will change the status quo in disputed areas. However, binding and specific guidelines have yet to be crafted despite expressions of commitment from claimants.

Han, who met with Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin on Monday as part of his two-day visit to the Philippines, said that while Asia has seen stronger economic ties, some work is needed to enhance security cooperation in the region.

“Asia, especially East Asia, is an area which attracts the eyes of the world. And to give an assessment of that region of Asia, the security in Asia is such that economic cooperation has been deepening for some time now, but the security operation has not been up to speed. We call this phenomenon the Asia paradox,” Han said.  

“I believe the situation that we have in the South China Sea can be understood in the framework of such phenomenon known as Asian paradox,” he added.

Han said South Korea is ready to support efforts to maintain stability in the region.

“The relevant military and diplomatic officials from the Asia Pacific should come together and consolidate a wide solution to the various problems that they may have. The Korean stand on this is that Korea will support to the best of our ability, should an issue arise that is in need of our attention,” the Korean defense chief said.

“I hope that the problem of the South China Sea and its maritime routes will be resolved shortly,” he added.

Han said South Korea’s security ties with the Philippines can be strengthened further, noting that it has been his country’s policy to cooperate with neighboring states to the best of its ability.

“We are looking into areas that we can cooperate with the Philippines. Once those areas are identified, we will make such cooperation and progress,” Han said.

“We have regular senior level bilateral meetings between the Philippines and Korea. We are conducting extensive educational exchanges between many of our officers and we are also conducting cooperation between our defense ministry although on a limited scale. I believe that all these areas can be expanded even further,” he added.

In 2014, President Aquino said the Philippines wants a “comprehensive strategic partnership” with South Korea, describing the two countries as “sister democracies’ that ‘face the same threats and challenges of an evolving region.”

The Philippines is embroiled in a territorial row with an aggressive and a militarily superior China while South Korea is dealing with a threat posed by a nuclear-capable North Korea.