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FollowASEAN-China South China Sea Code of Conduct negotiations
The Philippines' 2026 chairmanship turns the code talks into a time-bound but contested endgame
Key takeaways
- A South China Sea code would set crisis-management expectations between China and Southeast Asian claimants even if it does not resolve sovereignty disputes.
- The hardest unresolved questions still center on UNCLOS wording, legal force, enforcement, and how far the text can move beyond symbolic political reassurance.
- The Philippine-chaired 2026 push increases pressure for a deal, but it also makes maritime friction more likely to spill directly into the bargaining process.
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