China is “politically committed” to having a binding code of conduct (COC) on the South China Sea by 2026, according to Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo. Manalo made the pronouncement in an ambush interview on Thursday when asked if the Philippines and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) had gotten China’s commitment on the matter.

The standoff over Sandy Cay, which lies close to military outposts built by both Beijing and Manila, was the latest between the two nations.

China has claimed sovereignty over an uninhabited reef in the South China Sea, according to state media, setting the stage for an escalation of tensions with the Philippines over the disputed area.