President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is expected to urge fellow leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to expedite discussions and work toward the early adoption of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea as a constructive step toward easing regional tensions and promoting stability.

President Marcos will be in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from May 26 to 27, 2025, to attend the 46th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

In a press briefing at Malacañang on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Dominic Xavier Imperial recalled that during the 2023 ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ministers agreed to accelerate discussions on the Code of Conduct (COC).

“This is what we are banking on during the summits. The President certainly will push for it. He will raise this with the leaders of the ASEAN,” Imperial said when asked about the COC issue.

President Marcos had previously said he would urge his fellow Southeast Asian leaders to find a way to push for the finalization of the South China Sea COC to reduce regional tension.

The President has emphasized that adopting a binding COC would help clarify key issues and reduce the risk of regional misunderstandings or miscalculations. | PND