Asean steps up push for South China Sea code of conduct

Southeast Asian leaders have stepped up their push for a South China Sea code of conduct at the close of the 48th Asean summit in Cebu.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr said the code is key to unlocking deeper China-Asean economic cooperation, and that no such initiatives can be institutionalised until it is finalised.

He told a press conference on Friday that the task is complicated because Asean member states have different approaches to Beijing.

He said those differences would need to be incorporated into a single document.

The remarks matter because the code of conduct has been presented as a prerequisite for broader cooperation between Asean and China, including on energy security and other practical measures.

The summit in Cebu has already focused on regional economic and security concerns, with leaders seeking ways to strengthen coordination among member states.

Asean is an 11-member bloc, and the South China Sea remains one of the region's most sensitive disputes.

The latest comments suggest the issue remains central to the bloc's dealings with China.

It is not clear when the code of conduct might be completed, or whether the latest summit produced any new formal commitments on the text.

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