At the close of the 48th Asean Leaders’ Meeting in Cebu, the regional bloc renewed its push for an immediate conclusion to negotiations on a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea to manage disputes.
Asean stressed the full and effective implementation of the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. The leaders called for greater mutual trust, self-restraint and adherence to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who chaired the meeting, expressed hope that a code of conduct would be reached by the end of 2026. He acknowledged that the situation in the South China Sea had become “more unreadable.”
At the same time, Asean voiced concern over the Myanmar crisis. It noted minimal progress on the Five-Point Consensus and welcomed the release of more than 4,000 prisoners, including U Win Myint, as a positive step toward inclusive dialogue.