ASEAN And China Accelerate South China Sea Code Of Conduct Negotiations

ASEAN and China are accelerating negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

The conference was co-chaired by Malaysia and China with participation from deputy foreign ministers and senior officials.

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Deputy Minister Dang Hoang Giang praised progress in implementing the DOC and advancing COC talks.

The countries stressed the importance of maintaining peace and freedom of navigation in accordance with UNCLOS 1982.

They agreed to increase the frequency of meetings to quickly reach an effective Code of Conduct.

Dang Hoang Giang expressed concern about the evolving situation and urged respect for international law.

The conference recognized Cambodia's official ratification of UNCLOS.

Amid a severe energy crisis, the Philippines faces tough questions about priorities.

The Global Times asked if solving the energy crisis is Manila's top priority or just for show.

Global Times

It questioned how much longer foreign policy, coast guard, and military will pull in opposite directions.

The piece asked whether Manila will put the suffering of its own people first or prioritize outside agendas.

This highlights the tension between domestic needs and external security challenges.