Marcos Jr. urges China to speed up South China Sea code of conduct talks

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. stated that the onus is on China to accelerate negotiations for the long-awaited ASEAN-China Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.

He emphasized that ASEAN has been waiting for a long time to conclude the legally-binding document, which aims to govern the South China Sea.

The COC has been under negotiation between ASEAN and China for over two decades, with a target to finish talks by 2026.

Marcos highlighted that reaching a conclusion on the COC is crucial for establishing rules and stabilizing the situation in the region.

During the ASEAN Summit in Laos, Marcos urged leaders and Chinese Premier Li Qiang to be "earnestly open to seriously managing differences" and reducing tension.

China, through Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, previously stated its commitment to settling maritime differences through dialogue and consultation.

Marcos asserted that the Philippines will continue to protect its sovereignty and rights in the South China Sea despite Chinese harassment.