Southeast Asian leaders call for unrestricted access to South China Sea

June 23, 2019

Heads of state of Southeast Asian nations have called for unrestricted access and freedom of overflight in the South China Sea.

This was in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders’ Vision Statement on Partnership for Sustainability adopted in Bangkok Saturday.

In the communique, leaders cited "the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation in and overflight above the South China Sea."

There are important sea lanes in the South China Sea.

In July 2016, the The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration declared as illegal Beijing's claim over nearly the entire South China Sea. DMS