China slams Phl’s sea code of conduct

China on Monday warned the Philippines against its plan to create its code of conduct for the South China Sea with other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

In a press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning underscored that creating the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea is an "important task" for China and ASEAN countries.

Mao, however, stressed that "any departure" from the DOC framework and its spirit would "be null and void."

China's response stemmed from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s announcement on Monday that the Philippine government has started negotiating with other ASEAN members, such as Vietnam and Malaysia, to formulate a separate CoC.

Citing the "more dire" situation in the South China Sea, which includes the West Philippine Sea, Marcos said the Philippines took the initiative to discuss the matter with ASEAN member claimant states in the disputed areas.

"We are now in the midst of negotiating our own Code of Conduct, for example, with Vietnam, because we are still waiting for the Code of Conduct between China and ASEAN, and the progress has been rather slow, unfortunately," Marcos said.

Four of the 10 members of the ASEAN are primary claimants of the resource-rich South China Sea, such as Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei.

China also rejected Marcos' accusation that its construction and reclamations in the South China Sea for its military bases have come "closer and closer" to the Philippines' coastline.

"China's position and claims concerning the South China Sea issue are solidly grounded in history and the law," Mao said.