Foreign minister: Malaysia urges Asean, China to redouble efforts to finalise South China Sea code

Manila, November 14 — Malaysia's Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has called for increased political commitment and expedited efforts from both Asean and China to finalize the draft South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC). This year has seen a surge in negotiations, with talks occurring on a monthly basis. However, key matters such as the COC's nature and geographical scope continue to elude resolution.

Malaysia, which has co-chaired the negotiations since 2024, has collaborated closely with Asean member states and China to steer the discussions towards an effective COC within the three-year target set in 2023. Speaking at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), Hasan stressed the importance of renewed political will, especially at this crucial juncture.

The Asean and China are targeting the conclusion of negotiations on the South China Sea COC by the end of 2026. Regarding Myanmar, Hasan expressed concern over the ongoing crisis, which he deemed one of the most significant challenges to Asean's unity and credibility. He emphasized the need for clear objectives and measurable progress in adhering to the bloc's Five-Point Consensus (5PC), which serves as Asean's primary reference on Myanmar.

Hasan noted that Asean senior officials are currently deliberating two proposals under a mandate from Asean leaders during the 48th Asean Summit in May. These proposals, titled "The Non-Paper on the Terms of Reference of the proposed Special Envoy of Asean on Myanmar" and "The Non-Paper on Asean Elements to Assess Progress in Myanmar," are currently under discussion.