ASEAN-China Aim to Complete South China Sea Code of Conduct This Year

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Philippines’ Foreign Minister Theresa Lazaro stated that ASEAN and China are committed to completing the Guidelines for Behaviour or Code of Conduct (CoC) for the South China Sea by the end of 2026.

“From the discussions we have held, it is our view that ASEAN together with China is striving to complete that code of conduct by the end of this year,” Lazaro said during the discussion “Forging Ahead in Crisis: Philippines-Indonesia Relations, ASEAN Chairmanship, and Regional Resilience” organised by the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) in Jakarta on Thursday.

The Philippines will officially hold the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, with the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together”. Lazaro said this commitment also aligns with the agreement of the ministers, which sets a target for completion within three years since 2023.

“That we should be able to produce some kind of evaluation by the end of this year, and I can say now that it is indeed possible, because what is happening now is that the negotiating group meets every month,” she explained.

“Previously, a meeting was also held in Beijing a month ago, and I think we will host the next meeting again. I see that there has been some progress,” she said.

Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono hopes the South China Sea Code of Conduct can be completed and signed this year so that it does not drag on further.

“We hope the CoC can be signed this year. We will find a way how (the CoC discussion) no longer drags on,” Sugiono said.

Previously, in March, China’s Ambassador to ASEAN Wang Qing emphasised that China has solid political will to complete the South China Sea Code of Conduct according to the target.