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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider ASEAN expresses concern on land reclamation activities in South China Sea

ASEAN expresses concern on land reclamation activities in South China Sea

Published Jan 30, 2026 02:01 pm

The 11 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) viewed with concern land reclamation and other activities in the South China Sea as their top diplomats met in Cebu for talks over regional and global issues.

ASEAN released a lengthy statement on Thursday, Jan. 29, providing ideas on topics discussed by foreign ministers during their first closed-door meeting under the Philippines’ chairship of their annual meet.

ASEAN foreign ministers said they discussed the situation in the South China Sea, “during which concerns were expressed on land reclamations, activities, and serious incidents in the area.”

Serious incidents included actions that put the safety of all persons at risk, damage to the marine environment, which has eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace, security, and stability in the region, they said.

The bloc’s sentiment came as they were doubling their efforts for accelerated talks on the conclusion of the Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, an agreement among claimant states over acceptable actions at sea to prevent conflict.

ASEAN members said there is a need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, as well as exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and avoid actions that may further complicate the situation.

“We further reaffirmed the need to pursue peaceful resolution of disputes, in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea),” the chair of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers (AMM) Retreat, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Mar. Theresa Lazaro said.

Lazaro relayed ASEAN’s commitment to try to conclude the negotiation of an effective and substantive COC within this year.

“We emphasised the need to maintain and promote an environment conducive to the COC negotiations, including the situation in the South China Sea, and thus welcomed practical measures that could reduce tensions and the risk of accidents, misunderstandings, and miscalculation,” the ASEAN statement read.

Related Tags

South China Sea Code of Conduct ASEAN DFA Ma. Theresa Lazaro
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