Phnom Penh (FN), Apr. 23 – The Royal Government of Cambodia and the Government of the People’s Republic of China expressed commitment to fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and advancing the negotiation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) for its early conclusion.

The commitment was made during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's official visit to Cambodia on 21-23 April 2024.

A joint press release of Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Cambodia and the seventh meeting of the Cambodia-China Intergovernmental Coordination Committee stated, "Both sides stressed their commitment to fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), and advancing the negotiation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) for its early conclusion."

The South China Sea issue, a maritime dispute involving China and four ASEAN members, appears to be escalating once again following a trilateral summit convened by the Philippines, Japan, and the United States. In a joint statement, they expressed concerns about China's activities in the South China Sea. China, in turn, perceives the peace between the three countries as an alliance against it, particularly noting joint military exercises conducted by the Philippines and the United States near the South China Sea this week.

Historically, Cambodia has consistently urged all parties to pursue peaceful solutions and to utilise the ASEAN-China mechanism for the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC). Cambodia also called upon ASEAN and China to intensify their collaboration to achieve the South China Sea Code of Conduct (COC).
=FRESH NEWS