The Philippines, as ASEAN chair, aims to accelerate talks with China on a South China Sea code of conduct and conclude them this year, Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro said.
The pace of negotiations will increase from quarterly to monthly working group meetings, with additional senior official meetings planned.
Talks have stalled for years over issues like legal status, scope, and enforcement, despite overlapping claims by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, and Vietnam, while China claims nearly the entire sea.
Lazaro emphasized the goal is to produce an “effective and substantive” code aligned with international law, though she noted challenges remain.
Momentum has improved as several ASEAN members submitted proposals to guide the next stage of discussions under the Philippines’ leadership.
Source: PhilNews24 | February 8, 2026
PHILIPPINES PUSHES TO COMPLETE SOUTH CHINA SEA CODE TALKS BY 2026
Latest from News
Vice President Sara Duterte visited the wake of the three students killed in the Tacloban City
Starting June 25, qualified Filipino travelers can avail of a visa-on-arrival when entering the United Arab
The Department of Public Works and Highways is considering relocating about 500 families living along Tuntong
The Department of Health (DOH) reported a 6% increase in leptospirosis cases nationwide, with 2,177 infections
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) have urged the public