MANILA (Nov 14): Malaysia has urged Asean and China to show renewed political will and step up efforts to finalise the draft South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC).

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the talks had intensified this year, with negotiations held monthly.

However, he said key issues, including the proposed code’s nature and geographical scope, remained unresolved and needed urgent attention.

He said Malaysia, which has co-chaired the negotiations since 2024, had worked closely with fellow Asean member states and China to steer the talks towards an effective and substantive COC within the three-year aspirational timeline agreed in 2023.

“I urge we redouble our collective efforts to finalise the draft COC as soon as possible. Renewed political will is imperative in achieving this goal, particularly at this final and critical stage,” he said in his intervention address at the Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) here on Saturday.

Asean and China are aiming to conclude negotiations on the South China Sea COC by the end of 2026.

On Myanmar, Mohamad said the crisis remained one of the most pressing challenges to Asean’s unity and credibility. 

He called for clear objectives and measurable progress in implementing the bloc’s Five-Point Consensus (5PC), which remains Asean’s main reference on Myanmar.

“We continue to emphasise, the need for clear objectives and measurable progress, particularly in the implementation of the 5PC,” he said.

He said Asean senior officials were discussing two proposals under a mandate from Asean leaders at the 48th Asean Summit in May.

The proposals are entitled The non-paper on the terms of reference of the proposed Special Envoy of Asean on Myanmar and “he non-paper on Asean elements to assess progress in Myanmar.

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