(Screengrab from PCO)
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains hopeful that negotiations for a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea will be completed before the Philippines concludes its chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2026, Malacañang said Thursday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President continues to push for the long-awaited agreement despite reports suggesting that negotiations may not be concluded during the upcoming 49th ASEAN Summit.
“Sa ngayon, hindi rin natin masasabi kung talagang hindi na ito magkakaroon ng konklusyon sa 49th ASEAN Summit,” Castro said during a press briefing.
She emphasized that Marcos remains determined to see the agreement finalized while the Philippines leads the regional bloc.
“Ang gusto pa rin ng Pangulo ay ito ay maisapinal sa panahon na ang Pilipinas ang siyang ASEAN chair,” she added.
Castro made the remarks amid uncertainty over whether ASEAN member states and China could reach a consensus on the proposed agreement, which aims to establish rules governing conduct and managing tensions in the disputed waters.
Asked about the progress of negotiations and the prospects of securing an effective and legally binding agreement, Castro declined to disclose details, saying the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) was better positioned to provide updates.
“Hindi po ako makakapagsalita, hindi ako authorized person to tell details about the same so hayaan po natin na lumawig ang mga araw at hayaan natin na mas maging maganda ang resulta,” she said.
Despite questions surrounding the timeline, Castro maintained that the administration remains optimistic about reaching an agreement.
“Bawat araw, dapat may pagasa,” she said.
Marcos has previously expressed hope that negotiations for the South China Sea Code of Conduct would be completed by the end of 2026, with the Philippines seeking to use its ASEAN chairship to advance discussions.
The proposed COC is intended to establish a framework for managing maritime disputes, preventing confrontations, and promoting stability in the South China Sea, where competing territorial and maritime claims have remained a longstanding source of regional tensions.
