Malaysia seeks stronger Asean haze response, sustainable funding - Mohamad

MANILA, November 14 — Malaysia has called upon the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China to intensify their political engagement and expedite the finalization of the draft South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC), according to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. This year has seen a surge in negotiations, with talks occurring on a monthly basis.

However, Hasan highlighted that critical issues, such as the COC's intended purpose and geographical boundaries, remain unsettled and require immediate resolution. Since 2024, Malaysia has served as the co-chair of these negotiations, collaborating closely with Asean member states and China to progress the talks towards a robust and effective COC, in line with the three-year timeframe initially established in 2023.

During a recent address at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), Hasan emphasized the need for heightened collective efforts to finalize the draft COC promptly, particularly as the talks approach a critical juncture. Asean and China are targeting the conclusion of negotiations by the end of 2026. Turning to Myanmar, Hasan noted that the country's crisis represents one of the most pressing challenges to Asean's unity and credibility.

He stressed the importance of clear objectives and measurable progress in implementing the bloc's Five-Point Consensus (5PC), which serves as Asean's primary guideline on Myanmar. Hasan reiterated the Asean leaders' mandate for two 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," as discussed by senior Asean officials during the 48th Asean Summit in May.