Cebu, Philippines – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China are united in pressing ahead with negotiations on a long-delayed Code of Conduct for the South China Sea, with regional leaders signaling renewed political will to move the talks forward under the Philippines’ chairmanship.
ASEAN spokesperson Dominic Xavier Imperial said Tuesday that while the outcome of the upcoming discussions remains uncertain, all parties remain committed to advancing the negotiations after years of delay.
“On the COC, I think what is important to underscore here is that the parties — ASEAN member states and China — are all on board in terms of reaching a conclusion of the negotiations,” Imperial told reporters in a press briefing.
“All the parties are really bent on being able to hopefully endeavor concluding the negotiations within the 2026 timeline.”
Imperial said progress continues to be made incrementally, even if no breakthrough is expected in a single meeting.
“It’s hard to say what outcome we will have,” he said. “But when the parties sit down to continue the negotiations, what’s important is we will have some kind of movement as to the last agreements that we had in the previous meetings.”
The Code of Conduct aims to establish rules to manage competing claims in the South China Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes and a growing flashpoint between China and US-allied countries in Southeast Asia.
Imperial said the Philippines, as ASEAN chair, is encouraging more frequent talks to maintain momentum. “There’s always progress seen and that is very encouraging to see,” he said. “We hope we’re able to reach that goal very soon.”
