PH to press binding South China Sea Code of Conduct in ASEAN chairmanship – Marcos

Metro Manila, Philippines – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said the Philippines will work to finalize a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea when it assumes the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026.

In a podcast interview released on Friday, Aug. 8, Marcos highlighted the urgency of establishing a formal agreement among claimant states to avoid conflict and maintain stability in the region, particularly in areas near the Philippines where tensions run high.“We will certainly try, because a Code of Conduct is very, very important,” the president said, noting that the most volatile parts of the West Philippine Sea lie within the country’s maritime zones. “That’s why it matters to us.”Marcos reiterated that the Philippines will continue to stand firm in defending its territorial integrity and sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea.A binding code of conduct, he added, would clearly define acceptable behavior among parties and discourage actions that may lead to conflict, including ship collisions and artificial island construction.

“It makes the rules very clear and what is expected of each country, each signatory country.,” he said.

Despite a firm stance on sovereignty, Marcos maintained that this approach aligns with the long-standing policy of peaceful engagement. “Defending our territory is not incompatible with being a friend to all and an enemy to none,” he stressed, a position he first laid out in 2022 and reiterated in his State of the Nation Address.Marcos also highlighted the value of maintaining open diplomatic channels, especially amid repeated incidents of harassment involving Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea. “We need to keep those lines of communication open,” he said. “Shutting them down will only make things worse.”In May, Marcos called on Southeast Asian counterparts to hasten the finalization of a legally binding code. He warned that escalating geopolitical tensions and new trade barriers risk undermining regional stability and economic gains.