Marcos: All ASEAN states hoping for conclusion of SCS Code of Conduct

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said Thursday that all ASEAN member states raised the Code of Conduct on the South China Sea during the regional body’s Summit in Indonesia.

According to Marcos, ASEAN nations are hoping for the COC to be concluded as a legally binding pact.

“We’re waiting for the continued work being developed, that is being done to develop the framework for the Code of Conduct but ASEAN, halos lahat, lahat kami brought it up,” Marcos told reporters while en route to Manila.

“Sana naman andiyan na ‘yung Code of Conduct para maging maliwanag ang mga posisyon ng ibang bansa, ng China, alam natin ‘yung gagawin, what are the rules, so that’s a continuing… Lahat umaasa na matapos na ‘yung COC,” he added.

The proposed Code of Conduct aims to prevent overlapping claims in the potentially oil-rich region from degenerating into violent confrontations, or worse, an economically devastating major conflict.

Marcos has been pushing for the conclusion of the COC, adding that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea should be upheld as the universal framework in oceans and sea activities. — BM, GMA Integrated News