Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro is hopeful that the Philippines’ chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will witness the completion of the Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea amid escalating regional tensions between China, the...
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia—President Marcos has strongly stated that the Philippines cannot step back from pursuing the conclusion of the Code of Conduct (COC) for South China Sea, stressing that stopping would mean failure. "Well, earlier I said that at heart I 'm an optimist. And that 's...
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) urged all soldiers and civilian human resources to remain faithful to their constitutional mandate to protect the people and secure the state amid persistent corruption issues confronting various sectors of government, as it marked the 35th anniversary of...
The Philippines plans to fast-track the conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea when it assumes chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year. This was disclosed by Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro on Monday, July 14....
The Philippine Navy (PN) denied the reported maritime patrol of the Chinese navy and coast guard in Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough or Panatag Shoal), West Philippine Sea (WPS) on Saturday, May 31. Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, PN spokesperson for WPS, said monitoring by the Armed Forces of the...
Australian Ambassador to Manila Hae Kyong Yu reminded the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to ensure that a more binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea will also protect the rights of non-ASEAN members like Australia in using the critical waterways. ...
President Marcos is expected to push for the speedy conclusion of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China Code of Conduct (COC) during his participation at the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next week. Marcos will follow through on his call to ASEAN member states to...
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is considering taking “appropriate action” against China after it erroneously claimed that it has already seized Sandy Cay, a tiny sandbank near Pagasa Island where a Philippine military facility is located. This photo from Chinese state media...
Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo said that both China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are committed to finalize the Code of Conduct (COC) on the South China Sea by next year, but clarified that whether that will be legally binding for all parties...
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....
The negotiations for the conclusion of a more binding Code of Conduct (COC) between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China became the venue for the Philippines to once more raise concerns over Beijing’s recent aggressive actions in the contested waters. File photo “The...
Maritime cooperation among members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) might help conclude a binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the disputed South China Sea region, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Enrique Manalo said. DFA Secretary Enrique Manalo at the ASEAN Foreign...