In Manila, the Philippines and Malaysia emerged from a joint diplomatic meeting with measured confidence that years of negotiations over South China Sea conduct could finally reach conclusion before 2026 ends. The Code of Conduct being sought is not merely a diplomatic document — it is an attempt to impose shared meaning on contested waters where the absence of agreed rules has long invited coercion and confrontation. Whether the monthly negotiating rhythm and Malaysia's co-chairmanship can carry the talks past their hardest remaining questions will determine whether international law gains a