PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has reiterated his call for unity in pursuing peace and stability in the South China Sea, saying that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) must 'not allow those with diverging interests to make our efforts fail.'

In his remarks during the virtual 38th and 39th Asean Summits and Related Summits, Duterte said the regional bloc should pursue these initiatives in accordance with international law, including the 2016 arbitral award that invalidated China's expansive claim over the disputed waters.