Kuala Lumpur: Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged leaders of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries Monday to expedite the implementation of a 'code of conduct' for the South China Sea, the South China Morning Post reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, Marcos emphasized the urgent need to adopt a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea to protect maritime rights, promote stability, and prevent miscalculations at sea. He made these remarks during the 46th ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.

The code of conduct has been under negotiation between ASEAN and China since 2002. It aims to reduce tensions in the contested South China Sea by establishing guidelines for maritime behavior and crisis management mechanisms. However, negotiations have repeatedly stalled over the years due to ongoing territorial disputes and conflicting national interests.

In 2016, an international arbitral tribunal in The Hague ruled in favor of the Philippines in a maritime dispute against China concerning the South China Sea, stating that China's claims had no foundation in international law. China, however, has rejected the tribunal's decision.

Several ASEAN member states, including the Philippines, have overlapping territorial claims with China in the disputed South China Sea.