Reference to the PCA, South China Sea Arbitration Award of 12 July 2016, was dropped from the communique issued by the first meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers since the issue of the Award, following objection by Cambodia. The communique and joint-statement emphasize the peaceful settlement of disputes, and reaffirm the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
See the Joint Communiqué of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the Joint Statement of the Foreign Ministers of ASEAN Member States and China on the Full and Effective Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
