According to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo, ASEAN and China are committed to concluding a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea by 2026.
Manalo emphasized that while ASEAN member-states need to reach consensus on several contentious issues, including the scope and nature of the code, they are working towards a final agreement.
The Philippines, during recent negotiations, raised concerns over incidents in the West Philippine Sea, asserting the need to adhere to international law, including the 2016 South China Sea Arbitral Award.
Meanwhile, Chinese naval vessels, including an aircraft carrier, were observed in Philippine waters during the ongoing Balikatan exercises, though the military did not deem their presence alarming.
In another development, the Akbayan party-list demanded the release of three Filipinos detained by Chinese authorities, condemning the arrests as part of China’s retaliation for the Philippine crackdown on alleged Chinese spies.
Source: PhilNews24 | April 25, 2025
