Wang Yi Meets ASEAN Chief in Manila, Pushing for South China Sea Code of Conduct

On July 21, 2026, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Manila. Wang called for accelerating talks on a South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC) and accused certain Philippine military and police elements of stirring maritime disputes to serve external interests. Marking the 5th anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia, Wang reaffirmed Beijing's support for ASEAN centrality and invited regional states to join a China-led international AI cooperation body.

Against a backdrop of rising maritime friction with Manila and external interference, Beijing is seeking to prevent South China Sea disputes from derailing broader China-ASEAN ties. By reinforcing ASEAN centrality and promoting new initiatives in technology and diplomacy, China aims to solidify its position as a regional anchor and counter Western influence in the Asia-Pacific.

On July 21, 2026, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Manila, reiterating Beijing's commitment to regional stability and neighborhood diplomacy. The meeting took place alongside key diplomatic milestones, including the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and the fifth anniversary of the China-ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. During the discussions, Wang emphasized that China respects equality among all nations regardless of size and recalled that Beijing was the first major power to join the TAC, which helped raise ASEAN's international standing. Positioned against a backdrop of global turbulence, Wang framed China as a primary anchor of stability for East Asia and pledged to work with ASEAN to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South while building a more equitable international order. Addressing maritime security, Wang asserted that the South China Sea should not become an obstacle to China-ASEAN relations. He voiced sharp criticism toward elements within the Philippine military and police forces, accusing them of deliberate provocations that serve the interests of external powers while damaging bilateral relations and regional peace. Wang urged regional states to remain vigilant and called for accelerating consultations on a binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to maintain control over regional affairs. In addition to security topics, Wang highlighted China's efforts to expand technological cooperation following the World AI Conference in Shanghai, where Beijing proposed the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization. The entity is intended to boost artificial intelligence capacity building for Global South nations. Wang invited ASEAN member states to actively participate in the framework. According to the official reports, Kao Kim Hourn praised the practical achievements of ASEAN-China cooperation and expressed gratitude for Beijing's firm support of ASEAN centrality within the regional architecture.