Phl

WPS: Hormuz crisis sharpens PH push for South China Sea code

Summary: The Philippines, chairing ASEAN in 2026, is pushing to conclude a legally binding South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) to strengthen regional security and energy stability, in part to avoid chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz. Foreign Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro emphasizes that finishing the COC is an ASEAN “gift to the world,” with aims to finalize it in 2026 in dialogue with China and partners. The push comes amid broader regional energy shocks, with discussi