(VOVworld) – The Philippines hopes to maintain ASEAN solidarity and wants countries outside the region not to use ASEAN as a proxy for their rivalry, Philippine Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana said Monday at a security conference in Singapore.

The Philippines takes the post of rotating ASEAN chair in 2017 (Photo: EPA/VNA)

The Minister reaffirmed the unity and solidarity of ASEAN amidst the emerging super-power competition.

Lorenzana said ASEAN is finalizing a code of conduct (COC) in the hope that all East Sea claimants will follow legal and diplomatic processes in settling territorial disputes. He said the COC will create a framework for long-term solutions to disputes in contested waters.

The Philippines is currently the rotating ASEAN chair and will host its annual meetings this year.