ASEAN and China Reach 70 Percent Completion on Maritime Code
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China have completed 70 percent of negotiations for a South China Sea Code of Conduct.
Negotiations between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China regarding a proposed Code of Conduct (CoC) in the South China Sea are approximately 70 percent complete. The Department of Foreign Affairs announced the progress during the first official press briefing of the 49th ASEAN Summit, noting that regular meetings have occurred since the start of the year under the Philippines' chairmanship.
While significant progress has been made, the remaining 30 percent of the agreement contains critical provisions that still require consensus. The Philippines is specifically advocating for clear rules of conduct for all parties in the disputed waters and safeguards to respect the rights of third-party countries not involved in the talks.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed hope that the agreement will be finalized by the end of the year, coinciding with the conclusion of the Philippines' ASEAN chairmanship in December. However, government officials have not provided a definite timeline for the final completion of the agreement.
