The Philippines and China have stepped up discussions to finalize a Code of Conduct (CoC) for the South China Sea (SCS), Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan said on Tuesday, as Manila assumes the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year. “Both sides hope to accelerate negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea,” he said in a speech delivered in Manila. “Consultations are becoming more frequent and more intensive.” The CoC, first pledged in 2002, aims to manage disputes in the strategically critical waters, which serve as a corridor for trillions of dollars in annual trade.

Halili, A. H. (2026, January 22). Philippines and China intensify Code of Conduct talks amid SCS tensions. BusinessWorld, p. S1/12.