# Pact on South China Sea code of conduct unlikely, as ASEAN leaders gather

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/pact-on-south-china-sea-code-of-conduct-unlikely-as-asean-leaders-gather/
- Published: 2026-11-15T08:07:08+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-15T11:48:58+00:00
- Original publisher: Al Jazeera (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2026/11/15/pact-on-south-china-sea-code-of-conduct-unlikely-as-asean-leaders-gather?traffic_source=rss
- Topics: Asia, World

## Key points

- A South China Sea pact is unlikely at this week’s ASEAN gathering.
- About 80 per cent of the draft is complete.
- Disputes over scope and rights remain unresolved.

## Summary

An ASEAN and China agreement on a code of conduct for the disputed South China Sea is unlikely to be completed at the bloc’s leaders’ gathering in Manila this week. The pact is intended to manage tensions and reduce the risk of conflict, but negotiations have continued for more than two decades, and the Philippines has not secured consensus during its year as ASEAN chair.

Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro said about 80 per cent of the document was finished, with key issues still unresolved, including the sea’s geographical scope and the rights of countries outside the region. China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, a position rejected by a 2016 international ruling; the Philippines and four other regional states also have overlapping claims. The sea carries about half of the world’s merchant shipping, while recent confrontations and sharp exchanges between Manila and Beijing have added strain to negotiations.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.