Goodwill between Asean and China has reached an unprecedented level as both sides are working diligently to conclude the much anticipated code of conduct on the South China Sea. If everything goes as planned, Asean and China would complete the first reading of the Single Draft Negotiating Text (SDNT) of the Code of Conduct (COC) for the South China Sea by the end of July. At the latest meeting in Hangzhou, China on May 17-18, senior officials from both sides made "substantive" progress on the SDNT. For the first time, a qualitative and positive word was used to describe progress on longstanding negotiations on the code of conduct that would help manage tensions in the South China Sea. Then, the draft would be presented to Asean and Chinese foreign ministers at the Post Ministerial Meeting, a day after the annual Asean meeting in Bangkok at the end of July.

Source: Bangkok Post May 27, 2019 22:30 UTC