China and Asean take another step towards South China Sea code of conduct
- China’s foreign policy chief Wang Yi hails completion of second reading phase during visit to Indonesia
- Talks on a legally binding agreement to handle disputes in the waters have been going on for decades
The news was announced at the start of a meeting between China’s top diplomat Wang Yi and Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Jakarta, which is hosting the annual Asean foreign ministers’ meeting.
Wang welcomed the announcement, saying: “China supports the formation of a guideline document by all parties to accelerate the COC [code of conduct] and is willing to continue to play a constructive role in the early conclusion of the COC.”
The two sides had previously warned in May that this step might not be competed until the end of the year.
This in turn has led the United States to step up its activities in the waters, which are key to its Indo-Pacific strategy.
China and Asean began talks on managing their differences in the disputed waters in the 1990s, but progress has been slow.
A non-binding Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea from 2002 calls on all parties to handle disputes “with restraint”.
The code of conduct would be a legally binding document to regulate behaviour in the South China Sea, but talks have fallen behind schedule and the two sides have already missed a 2022 deadline to reach agreement.
01:37
Barbie film banned in Vietnam over map of South China Sea
Earlier this year the parties agreed to accelerate efforts to agree on a code of conduct.
Wang is in Jakarta for the Asean forum because China’s Foreign Minister Qin Gang could not attend due to health reasons. On Thursday he also met US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the sidelines of the event.
