China and Asean to meet next week to discuss code of conduct on South China Sea

China and four Asean states have overlapping claims over the South China Sea, an issue remaining unresolved for decades. - AFP

JAKARTA (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Officials from Asean member states and China will continue negotiations on a code of conduct (COC) for the South China Sea next week in Jakarta.

The meeting, organised by Indonesia, will be held from March 8 through March 10, and China will send delegates led by a deputy director general (DDG) level official in charge of maritime affairs, said a diplomat who declined to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the media.