Diplomatic efforts are intensifying across Southeast Asia this week to save an apparently doomed effort to forge a landmark code with China to govern tensions in the disputed South China Sea.
Asean envoys have privately expressed alarm in recent days at statements from Chinese officials that appear to confirm that planned talks next month on the so-called Code of Conduct are effectively dead in the wake of last month's tense meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa is due to meet his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi in Jakarta today, and has vowed to discuss the matter as well as Sino-Indonesian relations.
'This is an issue that demands Asean's and China's collective and common approach and action, otherwise the risk of further tensions are very much ahead of us,' Natalegawa said as Asean celebrated its 45th anniversary this week.
'In the absence of a code of conduct, we may be risking more incidents in the future,' he said.
The 10-nation grouping - which includes China's four rival claimants in the South China Sea - has recently finalised a suggested code for discussion with Beijing. A comprehensive code was promised in the landmark Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea agreed by Asean and China 10 years ago.