ASEAN representatives have urged China to speed up negotiations on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to move another step forward and settle territorial disputes.

“From the perspective of ASEAN as small countries, we are concerned of the South China Sea disputes and geo-politics (in the region), on how it could affect us,” said Malaysia’s Wawasan Open University (WOU) Pro-Chancellor Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

He said if the disputes could not be solved through negotiations, it could be taken to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

“If China is so confident about its historical and legal basis of the claims in the disputed water, why does it hesitate to go to the International Court of Justice?,” he asked.

… Distinguished Fellow of Singapore Nanyang Technological University, Barry Desker pointed out that despite Singapore, Indonesia and Cambodia not being involved in the South China Sea dispute, the nations nevertheless, had the same view on that.