Manila: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are "politically committed" to concluding the Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea by 2026, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo announced Thursday. Speaking at the Maritime Security Forum in Manila, Manalo highlighted the consensus among all parties involved to establish the code by the proposed deadline.

According to Philippines News Agency, Manalo noted that there are still several issues that need to be addressed, requiring agreement among all 10 ASEAN member states and China. He emphasized the importance of addressing key issues such as the scope of the code and its relation to the 2002 declaration of principles on the South China Sea.

In recent negotiations in Manila, ASEAN and China discussed 'milestone issues,' including the relation of the COC to the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Despite ongoing discussions since 2018, China has yet to commit explicitly to a legally binding COC, distinguishing it from the non-binding DOC.

The crafting of the COC is intended to manage tensions in the disputed South China Sea. Progress on the code was delayed during the pandemic due to the challenges posed by the inability to conduct in-person meetings.