The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) met this week in Singapore for its 33rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings with dialogue partners, including the United States, Japan, China, and Russia. They discussed a host of issues but the most critical one was the territorial dispute in the South China Sea, with China and at least four ASEAN nations having overlapping claims, while the US is determined to claim freedom of navigation in the sea, contrary to China’s claim that it is part of China’s sovereign territory. As in all past ASEAN meetings, the issue remained unresolved. The ASEAN nations have acceded to China’s proposal that in the meantime, the disputing nations agree on a Code of Conduct to prevent their disputes from escalating into armed conflict.

Code of Conduct in SEA taking too long. (2018, November 17). Manila Bulletin, p. 6.