Philippines approaches neighbours to discuss separate code as Beijing expands its presence in the are

The President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday that the country has engaged in discussions with neighbouring nations, including Malaysia and Vietnam to discuss a distinct code of conduct concerning the South China Sea. President Marcos emphasized the limited advancements in reaching a comprehensive regional agreement with China, noting the escalating challenges in the South China Sea due to China's increasing presence and the overlapping territorial claims of multiple nations. In the past few years, ASEAN and China have worked towards creating a framework to negotiate a code of conduct, a plan dating as far back as…