The Philippines says negotiations on a proposed South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) are about 70% agreed, but key provisions still require clarification. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) says discussions have moved into a stage focused on resolving remaining details.
Coverage across outlets emphasizes that the unresolved portion is expected to cover “major issues” within the remaining 30% of the package. Outlets note that talks involve China and Asean, with a year-end deadline approaching for concluding negotiations. While the reported figure of about 70% is consistent, the DFA spokesperson does not specify which exact provisions remain unsettled.
Overall, the different reports align on the same core update: the COC is largely agreed, yet some contentious elements are still under discussion. The main variance is the level of detail provided about the timing of the deadline and whether outlets highlight the negotiation stage as clarification-focused.
