Cambodia objects attempts to use ASEAN to settle territorial disputes: official

A Cambodian government official on Thursday reiterated the country's position on the South China Sea disputes, saying that the territorial disputes must be resolved bilaterally between China and claimant states, not between ASEAN and China.

"We do not support any attempt by some ASEAN countries to use the ASEAN to settle the territorial disputes because ASEAN is not a legal or judicial body," Soeung Rathchavy, Foreign Affairs Ministry Secretary of State in charge of ASEAN Affairs, told reporters after she briefed to ambassadors and representatives of more than 20 countries to Cambodia about the outcome of the recent 26th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.

"Cambodia's position on the South China Sea is still the same: The territorial claims must be settled by bilateral parties or all parties related in the disputes," she said.

The official said all involved countries should continue negotiations peacefully based on international laws, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

She also urged all parties related in the disputes to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) towards the compilation of the Code of Conduct ( COC).

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Endi