Marcos urges ASEAN for binding COC in South China Sea

President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. emphasized the urgent need for a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea during his speech at the 46th ASEAN Summit plenary meeting on Monday.

Marcos stressed that this code is crucial to safeguard maritime rights, promote stability, and prevent miscalculations amid rising geopolitical tensions and uncertainties.

He also urged fellow leaders to embrace inclusive development and accelerate climate action while stressing the importance of engaging partners to uphold ASEAN values such as peace, inclusivity, and shared progress.

Despite ongoing contentious issues and legal, political, and strategic differences among claimant states, member states agreed in August 2018 to complete the COC by next year to prevent disputes from escalating into major conflicts.

The proposed COC aims to set rules to prevent the intensifying dispute in the South China Sea from spinning out of control and worsening into a major armed conflict involving countries like the United States, an ally of the Philippines, and other Asian nations at odds with China.