MANILA, Philippines — ASEAN and China are aiming to conclude negotiations on a long-delayed Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea by the end of the year, as both sides accelerate talks aimed at managing tensions in the disputed waterway.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said negotiators have met monthly since January, signaling renewed political will to complete the agreement.
Lazaro said discussions have progressed on the principle of self-restraint, while negotiations continue on the code’s geographical scope, legal status and relationship with the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
Despite the momentum, former Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said major disagreements remain unresolved. He said the Philippines wants the COC to be legally binding and to cover Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal while reflecting the 2016 arbitral ruling, positions that China opposes. Vietnam also seeks to include the Paracel Islands, he added.
Security analyst Chester Cabalza said a binding agreement could strengthen ASEAN’s role in regional maritime security if member states unite behind it.
The United States welcomed continued negotiations but said any agreement should not undermine its interests in the South China Sea. US Ambassador to ASEAN Kevin Kim said Washington would continue supporting the Philippines under their mutual defense treaty, uphold international law and maintain freedom of navigation.
China reiterated its commitment to concluding the COC and implementing the 2002 declaration while criticizing what it described as interference by countries outside the region.
Negotiations on the COC have continued for years as ASEAN and China seek to establish rules governing conduct in the disputed waters, where Beijing’s sweeping claims overlap with those of several Southeast Asian nations.
