CEBU CITY – Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are expected to continue discussions on the “Code of Conduct” (COC) in the South China, with the aim of addressing tensions arising from territorial disputes in the contested waters in the region.
Southeast Asian diplomats confirmed to DZRH on Tuesday that the negotiations will push through in Cebu, following the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat on 29 January 2026, with technical working groups and senior officials of China and ASEAN member states meeting on 30 January 2026.
This is the first time the Philippines will be hosting the negotiations in the country as ASEAN Chair this year.
As ASEAN Chair, the Philippines has been pushing for a “Code of Conduct” due to escalating tensions in the South China Sea, and the recent incident of “high-pressure water cannoning and dangerous maneuvers” by China Coast Guard and Navy vessels against Philippine seacrafts in the contested areas.
Diplomatic sources also mentioned that Timor Leste, who joined the bloc last October 2025, will not be joining the negotiations.
In a separate press briefing in Cebu, Spokesperson for ASEAN Matters Mr. Dominic Xavier M. Imperial, confirmed that the negotiations on the COC is on the table and that all parties concerned are hopeful for a final “Code of Conduct” between ASEAN and China.
“So, on the COC, I think what is important to underscore here is that the parties, AMS and China, they're all on board in terms of reaching a conclusion of the negotiations,” Imperial stated.
“So that's one thing to highlight. And that said, I think everyone, all the parties are really bent on being able to hopefully to endeavor concluding the negotiations within the 2026 timeline,” he added.
The Philippines will also push for more meetings regarding “issues or challenges” in the negotiations during its Chairship.
“And as regards to the Philippines, as I have mentioned, the Philippines is leading in terms of supporting more meetings, and this number of meetings is important because it helps in the process, it helps in reaching the goal of being able to address the issues or the challenges in the negotiations,” he added.
Earlier, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro said in a media interview, that she will be proposing a “new strategy” with her ASEAN counterparts in a closed-door meeting in Cebu, to push for a final “Code of Conduct” between ASEAN and China.
