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FOREIGN ministers from 27 member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) have reached a landmark decision with China to adopt the framework of a code of conduct (COC) in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) on August 6 at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila.

According to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, this is considered “progress” but clarified that China will only agree to start negotiations on the sea code “if there is no more disruption from non-regional parties and when the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable.”