China warns Philippines against separate South China Sea code of conduct

China has warned the Philippines against pursuing a separate code of conduct in the disputed South China Sea, stating that any such move outside the existing framework would be invalid.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revealed that Manila has initiated discussions with other claimants, including Vietnam and Malaysia, to develop their own rules for the South China Sea.

Marcos cited the slow progress in the ongoing negotiations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for a code of conduct as the reason for this initiative.

He expressed hope that the initiative to create a separate code of conduct would expand to include other ASEAN countries.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning emphasized that any actions deviating from the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) framework and its principles would be considered null and void.