ASEAN and China agreed approving the Code of Conduct for contacts in the South China Sea

Almaty. August 17. Silkroadnews – China and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to establish a hot line for use during emergency, as well as the code of conduct for the unplanned contacts in the South China Sea, TASS reports.

As noted in the publication, the approval of these documents is scheduled for the upcoming ASEAN Summit to be held in China this September.

The details of arrangements reached at the senior officials' meeting held in the Chinese city of Manzhouli the day before have not been reported yet. It became known though that representatives of the ASEAN and China also reached an agreement on the completion of the draft Code of Conduct in the South China Sea by the middle of next year. The work on this document has been carried out since 2002, however, according to the ASEAN, Beijing artificially delays negotiations.

Following the consultations, the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin told reporters «the parties have recognized the need to deepen cooperation in the framework of the Declaration on the conduct that is a key to resolve territorial disputes in the South China Sea. In addition, it will help protect the situation from the third parties' interference».

According to TASS, it was the first joint meeting held after the recent decision by the international arbitration in Hague on the Philippines lawsuit saying China has no «historical rights» to the disputed islands in the South China Sea and most of its waters. The Chinese side stated it does not recognize the court's decision and considers this decision as a null and void.

Territorial disputes around the Paracel Islands (Xisha), Spratly Islands (Nansha) are held between China, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines. The major reason for the conflict is an attempt to establish control over the region, including using the military component close to the Strait of Malacca passing about 60% of China's trade and 80% of Chinese imports of hydrocarbons.