Cebu city: The Philippines and other ASEAN parties have introduced new strategies, including frequent face-to-face meetings, to accelerate discussions and address four key 'milestone issues' in the ongoing negotiations for the Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea (SCS).
According to Philippines News Agency, Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro emphasized the efforts being made to reach a consensus during a press briefing. Lazaro, who chaired the 2026 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Foreign Ministers' Retreat at the Nustar Hotel in Cebu City, highlighted the gathering of the 10 Southeast Asian foreign ministers and a senior official from Myanmar. The ministers collectively committed to concluding the COC within 2026, under the Philippines' leadership.
Lazaro noted the willingness of ASEAN member states to host face-to-face meetings as part of their commitment to the process. However, she acknowledged that no decisions have yet been made on the four contentious issues in the draft COC. These issues include establishing the link between the COC and the non-binding Declaration of Conduct (DOC) on the South China Sea, determining whether the final document will be legally binding, defining the COC's geographical scope, and clarifying terms such as self-restraint.
ASEAN member states are developing separate proposals to address these subjects, with the Philippines specifically working on defining self-restraint and crafting a potential terms of reference (TOR).
At the retreat, ministers expressed concerns over activities in the South China Sea, such as land reclamations and environmental damage, which they believe undermine peace and heighten tensions. They reaffirmed the need for mutual trust, self-restraint, and actions that avoid complicating the situation. The post-retreat statement stressed the importance of fostering a conducive environment and implementing practical measures to reduce tensions and prevent accidents or misunderstandings. The ministers emphasized the need for confidence-building and preventive measures, while upholding international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
