President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. stated on Thursday that negotiations regarding a Code of Conduct in the South China Sea are proceeding with “good progress.” He conveyed optimism that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China will arrive at an agreement aimed at de-escalating potential maritime confrontations. Marcos emphasized the importance of this proposed agreement for effectively managing tensions in the South China Sea. He made these remarks while in Singapore. The Code of Conduct is intended to provide a framework for behavior in the contested waters, preventing incidents that could lead to larger conflicts. Further details regarding the specifics of the “good progress” were not immediately available.