Marcos seeks South China Sea conduct agreement at ASEAN summit
The proposed rules aim to reduce tensions in disputed waters, with ASEAN and China targeting the end of 2026 to conclude negotiations.
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hopes to finalise a South China Sea Code of Conduct at the 49th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit on Nov. 15 to 17, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said.
Castro told a briefing that securing the agreement had long been a goal for Marcos as a way to ease tensions in the disputed waters. She said he remained hopeful of an accord as the Philippines approached the end of its summit hosting, and wanted good relations with all countries and agreements supporting regional peace.
The proposed code would set standards for how countries act in the contested waters and seek to avert incidents that might escalate into armed conflict. ASEAN and China agreed to a nonbinding declaration in 2002, but talks on a fuller agreement have stretched over decades.
Speaking in Singapore in October, Marcos reported progress in the negotiations while noting disagreements over the definitions of ordinary words. Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said in July that ASEAN and China aimed to finish negotiations by the end of 2026, with monthly meetings taking place since January.
