BOAO, Hainan (The Straits Times/ANN): The continued delay in finalising a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea, a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, will lead to prolonged uncertainty in the area, former diplomats and academics said at a panel discussion on Tuesday (April 20). China and the Asean member states have been negotiating the COC, aiming to finalise it by the end of 2021. said Professor Wu Shicun, head of the Hainan-based National Institute of South China Sea Studies. Both Arroyo and Dino pointed out that while their respective countries are still willing to work with Beijing on areas like vaccine accessibility, the sentiment is different on issues relating to the South China Sea. The Philippines had won a landmark arbitration case over China in 2016, confirming that it has rights to the disputed area but Beijing has refused to recognise the ruling.

Source: The Star April 21, 2021 02:32 UTC