China and ASEAN are making progress on a South China Sea “code of conduct,” but regional diplomats say they will not conclude the negotiations by the agreed timeline this year. In reports based on discussions with three regional diplomats, the talks have been under way for years as both sides work to manage tensions in disputed waters.
The code of conduct is aimed at reducing the risk that occasional confrontations in the South China Sea escalate into a larger conflict. Coverage notes that negotiations began in 2005 and that the eventual agreement is intended to promote restraint and discourage aggressive behaviour in a key global trade route.
Across outlets, the core message is consistent: progress is reported, but the parties cannot finish the talks within the timeframe they had set. Differences are mainly in how much background context is included and whether the headline stresses the “progress” element, the missed deadline, or both.
