Department of Foreign Affairs. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Tuesday said the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-member states and China have resumed the Code of Conduct (COC) talks on the South China Sea, adding that the Philippines is hosting the three-day negotiations.
In a message to reporters, DFA Spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said the event will be conducted from August 22 until August 24.
“The Philippines is hosting the 40th Meeting of the Joint Working Group on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (JWG-DOC) on August 22 to August 24 in Manila. This will be the third round of the COC negotiations this year,” said Daza.
The first two COC negotiations in 2023 were held in Jakarta in March and Vietnam in May.
According to Daza, the negotiations are conducted to prevent incidents such as the recent water cannon attack in AyunginShoal.
“We hope that all participants would come to the negotiating table in good faith and help create a conducive environment for talks. We remain committed to the early conclusion of an effective and substantive COC,” she added.
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