ASEAN Optimistic South China Sea Code of Conduct Will Be Finalised This Year

ASEAN Secretary-General Dr Kao Kim Hourn has expressed strong optimism that the long-awaited Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea negotiations between ASEAN and China can be successfully concluded within this year.

Speaking at a press conference following the 48th ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on Monday, Kao said both ASEAN and China remain firmly committed to completing the negotiations within the three-year timeline agreed upon in 2023.

“I am very confident and optimistic that the COC can be finalised this year,” he said, adding that discussions are progressing steadily through regular monthly meetings between the parties involved.

According to Kao, negotiators have maintained strong momentum throughout the process, with both sides making what he described as “concrete progress” toward a final agreement aimed at promoting stability, peace and cooperation in the strategically important South China Sea.

The proposed Code of Conduct has long been viewed as a crucial framework for managing territorial disputes and preventing tensions in one of the world’s busiest maritime trade routes.

Separately, Kao also announced that ASEAN will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) during the upcoming ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the Philippines this July.

He revealed that around six additional countries are expected to accede to the TAC during the anniversary event, which would increase the total number of signatories from the current 58 parties.

The TAC serves as a key diplomatic framework promoting peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and regional cooperation among participating nations.

The developments highlight ASEAN’s continuing efforts to strengthen regional unity and maintain diplomatic stability amid growing geopolitical challenges in the Asia-Pacific region.