As 2026 Asean chair, Manila has highlighted its push to finalise within its term a code of conduct covering the contested waters
However, diplomatic observers said fundamental disagreements about the document’s legal nature and a 2016 international tribunal that ruled against Beijing made a deal unlikely.
Lucio Blanco Pitlo, president of the Philippine Association for Chinese Studies, said frayed relations between Manila and Beijing “would create a challenging context” for a China-Asean agreement.
Tensions between the two countries have been escalating for over a year with a series of confrontations.
Source: News - South China Morning Post
