Southeast Asian heads of state have pledged to “endeavour to conclude” negotiations for an “effective and substantive” Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, highlighting a renewed urgency to manage maritime friction.
During a summit held in Cebu, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) issued a joint statement reaffirming the “full and effective implementation” of the current non-binding declaration.
The leaders emphasized that the existing agreement must be enforced “in its entirety” while calling on all nations to engage in maritime cooperation “to promote mutual trust and confidence.”
The drive for a legally binding framework follows a series of intensifying encounters between Chinese vessels and those of ASEAN members, including the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The proposed COC is intended to set clear rules of engagement to prevent localized disputes from escalating into a major armed conflict that could involve global powers like the United States.
Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro previously noted that ASEAN and China have shifted to a monthly meeting schedule this year to break a decade-long deadlock.
While negotiations have recently rotated through Cebu, Singapore, Thailand, and China, a final agreement remains elusive.
The regional bloc maintained that the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) serves as the definitive legal framework for “all activities in the ocean and seas.” Beyond high-level diplomacy, the leaders committed to practical defense cooperation, including:
- Enhanced maritime law enforcement and navigation safety.
- Protection of critical underwater infrastructure and trade routes.
- Joint initiatives in marine research and search and rescue operations.
- Collaborative efforts against illegal and unregulated fishing.
To centralize these efforts, ASEAN announced the creation of the ASEAN Maritime Center in the Philippines.
The hub will coordinate regional maritime issues and work to ensure continued freedom of navigation in the contested waterway.