China and Asean agree on draft code of conduct for South China Sea, says Beijing’s top envoy

A first draft of a Sino-Asean code of conduct for the disputed South China Sea has been completed, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Wednesday.

Talks between Beijing and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) were needed to decide on the final version, which was likely to cover a binding crisis management mechanism, prevention of the installation of offensive weapons and freedom of navigation, analysts said. China and Asean have been discussing a set of rules to avoid conflicts among claimants in the busy South China Sea since 2010.

On the sidelines of the National People’s Congress, Wang said the code’s first draft had been completed, and both China and Asean countries were satisfied.

Wang also delivered a warning over Washington’s repeated “freedom of navigation” operations in the contested waters amid concerns over US President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a significant increase in the US defence budget.

“If someone is still trying to make waves [in the South China Sea], they will have no support and will meet opposition from all parties,” Wang said, without naming the United States.