The South China Sea Code as a test of ASEAN’s agency

Written by Dr. Aniello Iannone

Ultimately, the COC’s relevance will depend on whether it can institutionalise guardrails that shape incentives at sea, reduce the frequency and severity of grey-zone encounters, and make de-escalation after incidents more predictable.

Southeast Asia9DLMarch 23, 2026The Philippines’ hard balancing statecraft won’t deliver the South China Sea Code of Conduct, Pheng Thean, 9DASHLINE, South China Sea, ASEAN, The Philippines, China, Code of Conduct (COC), ASEAN chairmanship, hard balancing, reputational costs, alliance building, Exercise Balikatan, defence cooperation, deterrence signalling, maritime security, Vietnam

No land in sight: Prospects of a South China Sea Code of Conduct

Written by Dr Apila Sangtam

The differing stances on the legal nature of the COC and China's assertive actions in contested waters pose significant obstacles to reaching a comprehensive and effective agreement.

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