The Philippines calls for urgency from China and Asean in the South China Sea Code negotiations

VIENTIANE/BEIJING – Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. pressed Southeast Asian leaders and China at a regional summit on Oct. 10 to urgently accelerate negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Sea, while accusing Beijing of intimidation and intimidation.

Speaking in Laos to Asean leaders and Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Mr Marcos said substantial progress was necessary and that all sides must be “seriously open to seriously managing disagreements” and reducing the tension.

China and US ally the Philippines are at loggerheads over a series of clashes near disputed areas in the South China Sea, with Manila accusing China’s coast guard of aggression and Beijing furious over what it calls repeated provocations and territorial incursions .

The fighting has been fierce and has raised regional concerns about an escalation that could ultimately involve the United States, which has a 1951 defense treaty that obligates it to defend the Philippines if it is attacked.

“There should be more urgency in the pace of negotiations on the Code of Conduct between ASEAN and China,” Marcos said at the meeting, according to a statement from his office.

“It is unfortunate that the overall situation in the South China Sea remains tense and unchanged. We continue to face bullying and intimidation.”

Chinese Mr. Li, in his remarks on October 11, urged countries outside the Southeast Asian region to respect and support China’s peace efforts in the South China Sea, and to play a constructive role in regional peace and stability. No nations were mentioned.

Without referring to any country or incident, Mr Li said China has always insisted on resolving differences with relevant countries through dialogue and consultation and actively carrying out practical cooperation at sea, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Mr Li also said China and ASEAN countries are “striving towards (the) early finalization” of the code of conduct.

Based on its old maps, China claims sovereignty over virtually the entire South China Sea and has deployed a coast guard fleet deep into Southeast Asia, including the exclusive economic zones of Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Vietnam.

It is not a standstill

The idea of ​​a maritime code was first agreed between China and ASEAN in 2002, but the formal process of creating one only began in 2017.

Since then, progress has been painfully slow, with years of debate over the framework and modalities for negotiations and directives issued to try to speed up negotiations. Some ASEAN members are concerned that the code of conduct will not be legally binding.

ASEAN Secretary General Kao Kim Hourn said in an interview with Reuters about the process: “It is not static, it is not standing still.”

Mr. Marcos expressed frustration that the parties involved could not agree even on simple issues, adding that “the definition of a concept as fundamental as ‘self-control’ has not yet reached consensus.”

The ASEAN leaders were joined in Laos on October 10 by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Japan’s new Prime Minister Mr Shigeru Ishiba and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, ahead of the plenary meeting of the East Asia Summit on October 11.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-Yeol and Japan’s Ishiba held their first summit in Laos on October 10, as the neighboring countries seek to deepen security and economic ties.

Mr. Yoon has urged restoring ties with Tokyo and boosting trilateral security cooperation involving Washington as a top diplomatic priority, building on the progress made by Mr. Yoon and Mr. Ishiba’s predecessor, Fumio Kishida.

Supply chain resilience

South Korea and Asean announced in Vientiane that they had established a comprehensive strategic partnership, which Mr Yoon said would develop cooperation in the defense industry and help strengthen Asean’s cybersecurity capabilities.

According to the Singapore government, negotiations have also been completed on an upgrade to an ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, covering customs, supply chain connectivity, competition and consumer protection, as well as non-tariff barriers.

ASEAN leaders also committed to improving the resilience, innovation and competitiveness of regional supply chains and accelerating efforts to negotiate and improve free trade agreements.

The summit in Laos also discussed a crisis in Myanmar that began with a military coup in 2021 and has since spiraled into civil war.

The conflict has haunted Asean, with differing opinions among members testing the 10-member bloc’s unity, credibility and ability to respond decisively to issues.

ASEAN leaders on October 10 urged all parties to stop violence and attacks on civilians and supported efforts to find a peaceful solution, including increased cooperation with Myanmar’s neighbors and the United Nations to address the crisis and its wider consequences, including narcotics and crime.

Western countries have taken a tougher stance than Asean, imposing sanctions and accusing Myanmar’s generals of committing systematic atrocities. The junta has called this disinformation.

Mr Marcos said earlier that Asean’s formal peace process, the “Five Point Consensus”, has not worked so far and that the bloc is now “trying to come up with new strategies”.

“We have to admit… that we have not been very successful in actually improving the situation,” Marcos told reporters, according to his office. REUTERS