ASEAN aims to conclude South China Sea code of conduct by 2026

FILE - A Chinese coast guard ship, left, and a Chinese militia vessel, right, blocks a coast guard ship from the Philippines as it heads toward Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, Oct. 4, 2023. The ASEAN hopes to reduce risk of conflict in the area with a code of conduct.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations will speed up negotiations with China on a code of conduct to mitigate the risk of conflicts in the hotly contested South China Sea, a senior official from the Southeast Asian bloc said. The bloc hopes to conclude talks by 2026.