Cebu, Philippines – Philippine officials said negotiations for the long-running South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) are on an “encouraging progress,” while the regional bloc also eyes stronger maritime cooperation through a proposed Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Coast Guard Forum and a maritime center in the Philippines.
During a media briefing ahead of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, Foreign Affairs spokesperson for ASEAN Dominic Xavier Imperial said maritime cooperation remains a key priority under the ASEAN Political-Security Community pillar.
Among the proposed outcome documents for endorsement by leaders is a declaration on maritime cooperation with “the inclusion of the ASEAN Coast Guard Forum as an ASEAN sectoral body and the proposed establishment of an ASEAN maritime center in the Philippines.”
The Philippines earlier proposed adopting a Declaration on Maritime Cooperation during the summit, with Manila specifically pushing for “a framework on coast guard cooperation and an ASEAN center on maritime.”
The initiative seeks to deepen coordination and regional cooperation amid growing geopolitical tensions and security concerns in the South China Sea.
Imperial also gave an update on negotiations between ASEAN and China on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the disputed waters.
“We are encouraged by the progress that we’re seeing,” an ASEAN official said.
The official added ASEAN is also “very encouraged by the commitment of all parties,” referring to the 11 ASEAN member states and China participating in the negotiations.
“There was a mention of commitment for more frequent meetings, so those frequent meetings are still happening,” he said.
Another round of talks is expected “in a couple of weeks from now” to be hosted by China, said Foreign Affairs Secretary Thereza Lazaro in April.
The COC is aimed at preventing tensions and reducing the risk of conflict in the South China Sea, where China’s sweeping maritime claims overlap with claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei.
The decades-long negotiations between ASEAN and China have faced delays and difficulties amid rising tensions in the disputed waters.
