(CNN Philippines) Metro Manila — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to speed up negotiations on the long-delayed code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea.
In a joint statement after a meeting among their top diplomats, the 10-member bloc and Beijing vowed to “work toward the early conclusion of an effective and substantive” set of rules seen to minimize the potential for conflict in the disputed waterway.
The Associated Press (AP) reported that ASEAN and China have resolved to try to conclude the COC within three years, citing a Southeast Asian diplomat who asked not to be named.
Beijing’s expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea clash with those of four ASEAN member-states: the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei. For decades, the Southeast Asian nations have been pushing for a legally-binding COC in the area, but critics have noted that progress has been slow due to resistance from the East Asian giant… Read More
