More talks needed for ‘effective, substantive’ COC—DFA chief

Manila Bulletin

As the timeframe set for the conclusion of the China-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Code of Conduct draws nearer, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo revealed on Monday, April 14, that there will be more rounds of negotiations in the coming months. (via Raymund Antonio | MB)  READ: https://mb.com.ph/2025/4/14/more-talks-needed-for-effective-substantive-coc-dfa-chief   Join this channel to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5664f6TkaeHgwBly50DWZQ/join  Subscribe to the Manila Bulletin Online channel! - https://www.youtube.com/TheManilaBulletin  Visit our website at http://mb.com.ph Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manilabulletin Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/manila_bulletin Instagram: https://instagram.com/manilabulletin Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@manilabulletin  #ManilaBulletinOnline #ManilaBulletin #LatestNews

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00:00Well, of course, that's all related.

00:05Certainly, issues like that, in fact, are one of the reasons why we need to have a code.

00:11Pero, Chek, what's the chances of anything getting resolved if China says

00:16the COC should not be used as a means to justify the arbitral ruling?

00:21That's what we're pushing for.

00:23Well, I don't want to jump ahead. We'll have to discuss that when we get there.

00:26But as I said, well, when we met earlier, I said these are going to be negotiations,

00:32so you have to take into account all the views of all the countries on each issue.

00:38Sir, on the milestone issue of whether legally binding or not ang COC,

00:43does the Philippines want the COC, if the Philippines wants it to be legally binding,

00:47what legal recourse do we prefer?

00:50Well, let me say first, before you get to that particular issue,

00:54we have to know what we're going to be adopting.

00:57So we have to see first how, let's say, the latest draft of a code of conduct looks like

01:05before we can address that issue.

01:06I think that's one of the issues which will be discussed perhaps last

01:09because we have to ensure our position is that we should have, at least on paper,

01:15an effective and substantive code.

01:16And then we have to decide then how we'll implement that.

01:21So we're still, unfortunately, not yet there.

01:24So that's why we'll be having more rounds of negotiations this year

01:28and, of course, next year during our chairmanship.

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