A singular achievement attributed to President Rody Duterte that should drown the shrilling voices of the bungling duo of former President Noynoy Aquino and Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV was the draft code of conduct (CoC) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China on the conflicting claims in the West Philippine Sea.

The draft document was unveiled at the conclusion of the recent ASEAN Foreign Ministers Summit in Singapore.

It was Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi who announced the CoC draft.

The CoC will contain the binding rules in the maritime conflict that becomes relevant since it has China’s agreement to it.

Noynoy and his yellow cohorts have been waving on Rody the use as a policy guide the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling that favored the Philippines but is unenforceable since China does not recognize it.

Rody had introduced an independent foreign policy that engages all countries to dialogue regarding conflicts which is a tack that is now winning praises from all corners of the world except the Western powers who wanted to maintain developing nations as servile followers.

The CoC embodies Rody’s policy since it places premium on direct dialogue in which China and the entire ASEAN are involved in.

There are views which stated that Western powers are trying to put a wedge between China and the ASEAN because of the fear that such a partnership would create an economic center of gravity that would have a dominant global clout.

The ASEAN has been an economic community since 2015 but its potentials as a bloc remain mostly dormant as it harmonizes the trade policies of its 10 members.

Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan who hosted the ASEAN meeting described the draft as a milestone in the CoC process since the document provides the first definite basis for maritime conflict negotiations.

Rody when he assumed the presidency proposed close engagement with China through dialogues instead of antagonizing it.

He sought joint exploration in the disputed area despite Noynoy’s bankrupt opposition.

Rody is always clear about defending the country’s sovereignty while talking with China as he stressed that going to war is not a solution.

Rody was accurate in his assessment that the Philippines is merely caught in the middle of the battle of giants China and the United States for dominance in the region.

Unlike before, the Philippines is now getting better deals in terms of financial aid from both the US and China.

The planned joint exploration in the disputed areas shows that China wanted a constructive relationship with its neighbors where everybody gains so long as there is no interference from non-Asians.

Recognition in the region of the huge role Rody played in crafting the binding document was symbolized in the handing to the Philippines of the role of country coordinator for the China-ASEAN dialogue after the CoC draft was announced.

The CoC will be signed to make it formally in effect by November when ASEAN leaders and their dialogue partners meet for the ASEAN Summit.

Noynoy whose confrontational policy induced China’s massive buildup in the disputed seas and Trillanes, who practically sold the nation to China in his backchanneling work, had assailed Rody for taking a soft position in the maritime conflict.

Now, the foreign ministers of ASEAN agreed on a document embodying Rody’s non-confrontational policy which is soon expected to bring back a harmonious atmosphere in the region.

The muddled up situation that existed in the previous administration was mostly the result of Noynoy kowtowing to then President Barack Obama who had then launched a campaign for a US military pivot to China.

The CoC marks the Asia for Asians philosophy that most leaders in the region now espouse after the trailblazing role of Rody’s independent foreign policy to promote it.