South China Sea code of conduct: can Beijing and Asean meet 2026 deadline?

Manila, November 14 — Representatives from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China have reportedly reached an agreement on nearly 90 percent of the proposed Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. Malaysia's Foreign Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, expressed optimism that negotiations will be finalized soon.

However, certain sensitive terms and provisions still require mutual agreement among the involved countries. During a press conference after attending Asean foreign ministers' meetings, Hasan emphasized Malaysia's commitment to concluding the negotiations as quickly as possible. He noted that the three-year deadline for the COC negotiations will expire this year and that efforts are now focused on aligning the positions of the littoral states.

Asean and China have intensified their negotiations this year, conducting monthly meetings to address outstanding issues, including the COC's legal status, geographical scope, and relationship to the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. Both parties aim to conclude the COC negotiations by the end of this year.