The opulent halls of Singapore’s Shangri-La Hotel became a theater of diplomatic friction this week as the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue hosted a sharp exchange between Beijing and Manila. A Chinese military delegation, led by PLA scholar Zhang Chi, publicly challenged Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, accusing the Marcos administration of 'contradictory' behavior regarding the long-stalled Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea. Beijing’s grievances center on what it describes as Philippine provocations on uninhabited reefs, which it claims violate the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties.
During a high-stakes plenary session, Zhang Chi questioned how Manila could profess a commitment to regional stability while simultaneously deploying personnel to disputed features. This rhetorical offensive marks a shift in China's strategy at international forums, moving from defensive posturing to active cross-examination of its neighbors' maritime activities. The Chinese side argues that Manila’s recent 'transparency initiative'—which involves filming maritime skirmishes—is a orchestrated attempt to involve 'external forces' and disrupt the regional order.
Secretary Teodoro’s response signaled a hardening of the Philippine position, as he questioned the inherent value of a regional Code of Conduct when broader international frameworks like the UN Charter already exist. This dismissal has reverberated through diplomatic circles, as it suggests Manila may be losing patience with a COC negotiation process that has dragged on for over two decades without a legally binding result. The Philippine stance now appears to prioritize universal international law over the localized, consensus-based agreements favored by Beijing.
The confrontation highlights a deepening rift in the South China Sea's legal architecture. While Beijing views the 2002 Declaration as the primary guardrail for managing disputes, Manila and its allies increasingly view it as an outdated document that has failed to prevent the militarization of the waterway. As both sides trade accusations of bad faith, the prospect of finalizing a meaningful COC remains as distant as ever, leaving the region to navigate an era of heightened 'gray zone' tactics and legalistic sparring.