A rule book to settle disputes in the hotly contested South China Sea should be finished in three years, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Tuesday, insisting his nation does not seek “hegemony or expansion.” Li’s comments appeared to be the first clear time frame for finishing the code of conduct. Talks have dragged on for years, with China accused of delaying progress as it prefers to deal with less powerful countries on a one-to-one basis. Ownership of islands and waters in the South China Sea is disputed by several nations, including the Philippines.

Villanueva, R. U. (2018, November 14). Beijing: finish sea code in 3 years. The Manila Times, pp. A1, A2.