Philippines Pushes for South China Sea Code of Conduct by End of 2026 as Talks Move to Monthly Cadence

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said Manila is pushing to complete the long-delayed ASEAN-China Code of Conduct for the South China Sea by the end of 2026, with negotiations accelerated from quarterly to monthly sessions. Four milestone issues remain unresolved after nearly a decade of talks: the geographic scope, whether the agreement will be legally binding, its relationship to the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties, and the terms of reference — including the definition of 'self-restraint.' The push comes as the Philippines chairs ASEAN in 2026 and prepares to mark the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral award, though analysts note optimism has eroded amid escalating Scarborough Shoal tensions during the year.