We need a Code of Conduct, at least, in the South China Sea

AFTER years of deadlock, Indonesia initiated the resumption of negotiations for a code of conduct (CoC) for conflicting parties in the South China Sea. This now gives Asean and China a formal forum in which tensions can be defused in the resources-rich sea. Both sides have committed to keeping the conflict at a manageable level because the South China Sea is one of the world’s busiest sea lanes.

In fact, stability in the area is one of the key conditions to maintaining a conducive situation in the Asia-Pacific region. Everyone is a loser if open and armed conflicts erupt in the region no matter how powerful they are militarily and economically.