ASEAN, China reach provisional agreement on 80% of South China Sea code, says Philippines

Résumé détaillé

Negotiations on the long-awaited South China Sea Code of Conduct remain unfinished despite substantial progress, as ASEAN leaders also discuss Myanmar's political crisis and…

Negotiations on the long-awaited South China Sea Code of Conduct remain unfinished despite substantial progress, as ASEAN leaders also discuss Myanmar's political crisis and transboundary haze.

MANILA: ASEAN and China have reached provisional agreement on about 80 per cent of the negotiating text for a long-awaited South China Sea Code of Conduct, Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro said on Sunday (Nov 15).

Speaking at a press conference after the first day of the 49th ASEAN Leaders' Summit in Manila, Lazaro said the parties had agreed to continue working constructively to conclude negotiations on an effective and substantive code as soon as possible.

Lazaro said differing positions among ASEAN member states and China, as well as the time needed for negotiations, had prevented the agreement from being finalised this year.

"If we were given probably another five to six months, we can finish that," she said.

The Philippines, which holds ASEAN's rotating chairmanship this year, had made concluding the negotiations by the end of 2026 a key priority.

Lazaro noted that the Philippines had made substantial progress, raising the proportion of agreed text from about 50 per cent to 80 per cent.

Singapore takes over the bloc's chairmanship in 2027, and Lazaro expressed confidence that negotiations could be concluded next year.

“I trust that Singapore will be able to finish the discussions,” she said.

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