Philippines woos neighbours to craft code on South China Sea

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr speaking at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu on Nov 19, 2023. - AP

MANILA: The Philippines has approached neighbours such as Malaysia and Vietnam to discuss a separate code of conduct regarding the South China Sea, its president said on Monday (Nov 20), citing limited progress towards striking a broader regional pact with China.

Relations between the two have grown more tense under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, who has increasingly complained about China's "aggressive" behaviour while rekindling strong ties with the Philippines' sole treaty ally, the United States.