Political negotiation between parties directly concerned is the best and the only way to solve South China Sea disputes, said a scholar here on Thursday.
The remarks came days after Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte shared the same view here at a joint conference that the South China sea should be a sea of peace, stability ad sustainable development for the sake of the region and its peoples.
What these two leaders said here is good for regional peace and stability, said Yang Baoyun, professor of ASEAN Studies at Thailand's Thammasat University.
The two leaders also stressed the need for full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
"The signing of the DOC between China and member states of ASEAN in Cambodian capital Phnom Penh in 2002 was a good beginning to solve the disputes in the South China Sea. Now the two leaders's emphasis on the importance of full and effective implementation is consistent with what China has been calling for," Yang said.
Since the situation is easing, outsiders should not come to intervene again to make the situation complicated, he added.
"I still think political negotiation between the parties directly concerned is the best and the only way to solve the disputes in the South China Sea, which will contribute to peace and stability in the South China Sea, Southeast Asia and East Asia," Yang said.
He also said that a framework for the Code of Conduct, which may come from negotiation and is accepted by all parties concerned, is good as it can at least prevent the situation from deteriorating in the future.
During their joint press conference, the Thai prime minister and the Philippine president also expressed their shared determination to complete the framework for the Code of Conduct within this year.
