ASEAN DEFENSE MINISTERS URGE BINDING CODE FOR SOUTH CHINA SEA

ASEAN defense ministers renewed their push for a binding Code of Conduct (CoC) to ensure peace and stability in the South China Sea. Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, they emphasized accelerating CoC negotiations amid tensions over China’s “nine-dash line” claims. Philippine President Marcos urged ASEAN to hasten the talks and highlighted slow progress in cooperation with China, opting for separate CoC efforts with Malaysia and Vietnam. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. criticized China’s conditional dialogue approach. ASEAN reaffirmed its commitment to maritime security and international law.