Marcos Jr., Singapore leaders discuss South China Sea

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Singaporean leaders discussed the South China Sea and the importance of a conducive environment for code of conduct (COC) negotiations during Marcos' state visit.

The leaders emphasized the need for a stable South China Sea and reiterated the ASEAN call for peaceful dispute resolution without threats or force.

They underscored the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).

Substantive negotiations for an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, in accordance with international law like the 1982 UNCLOS, were also highlighted.

The COC must also protect the rights and interests of all parties involved in the South China Sea.

The territorial dispute in the South China Sea involves China, the Philippines, and other littoral states, with China claiming approximately 80 percent of the area under its nine-dash line.