ASEAN, China fail to conclude South China Sea code of conduct
MANILA: ASEAN and China were unable to conclude negotiations on a long-delayed South China Sea code of conduct under the Philippines’ chairmanship, despite reaching provisional agreement on about 80% of the draft, Manila’s foreign minister said on Sunday. Negotiations on an ASEAN-China Code of Conduct in the South China Sea have dragged on for over two decades, but the Philippines, as current…
Manila, Philippines – ASEAN and China were unable to finalize negotiations on a South China Sea Code of Conduct during the Philippines' chairmanship, according to Foreign Minister Ma. Theresa Lazaro. The talks, which have dragged on for over two decades, reached a provisional agreement on approximately 80% of the draft. However, several unresolved issues remain, such as the code's potential legal binding status.
ASEAN members and China hold differing views on key matters, with ASEAN countries emphasizing adherence to international law while China maintains its actions are lawful and professional. The code is crucial for preventing escalating tensions and managing incidents in the South China Sea, where overlapping maritime claims involve Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
The most recent ruling came in 2016, when an international arbitration tribunal found China's claims unsupported under international law—a decision Beijing disputes. The ongoing maritime confrontations between Manila and Beijing have involved aggressive maneuvers, water-cannoning, and interference with resupply missions. Analysts suggest that disagreements within ASEAN, such as the geographical scope of the code, have further complicated negotiations.
Singapore, set to assume the ASEAN chairmanship next year, will be tasked with securing an agreement on the code during its leadership term.
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