Philippines' President says South China Sea code of conduct talks making progress

SINGAPORE, Oct 8:  Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Thursday that negotiations between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on a long-awaited South China Sea Code of Conduct (CoC) are making progress despite continuing disagreements.

“We’re working very, very hard, we’re making good progress as a matter of fact, in terms of the code of conduct,” Marcos said at the 24th Forbes Global CEO Conference in Singapore, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Marcos acknowledged that the negotiations remain difficult, saying disagreements can extend even to the meaning of ordinary words used in the proposed agreement.

He also expressed concern that an unintended incident at sea could escalate into a wider confrontation.

“My greatest fear is that some seaman, some soldier just makes a mistake, and that mistake turns into something that goes out of control,” Marcos said.

Marcos arrived in Singapore on Wednesday for a five-day visit focused on strengthening economic cooperation and attracting investment in emerging industries. His itinerary includes talks with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and a visit to the country’s Nuclear Research and Safety Institute, according to the Philippine Information Agency.

ASEAN and China adopted a nonbinding Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea in 2002, but negotiations toward a more substantive Code of Conduct have continued for years.

The disputed waters remain a major source of tension, with Manila repeatedly accusing Chinese vessels of dangerous maneuvers against Philippine ships. Beijing maintains its claims over large areas of the South China Sea.

ASEAN and China are aiming to conclude negotiations on the Code of Conduct by the end of 2026.