Philippine foreign minister Theresa Lazaro said roughly 80% of the draft code had been provisionally agreed, but negotiations remained inconclusive. (EPA Images pic)MANILA: Asean and China were unable to conclude negotiations on a long-delayed South China Sea code of conduct under the Philippines' chairmanship, despite reaching a provisional agreement on about 80% of the draft, Manila's foreign minister said on Sunday.
Negotiations on an Asean-China Code of Conduct in the South China Sea have dragged on for over two decades, but the Philippines, as current chair, had committed to speed up those talks and concluding the code this year.
"There is no conclusion yet," said Philippine foreign minister Theresa Lazaro at a press conference at the Asean summit in Manila, adding that several key issues remain unresolved, including questions over whether the code would be legally binding.
