ASEAN Calls for Swift China Sea Code and End to Myanmar Violence

Southeast Asian leaders seek international law-based maritime conduct and urge peace in Myanmar amid regional tensions.

Southeast Asian leaders emphasize the need for a formal code of conduct in the South China Sea to reduce tensions and prevent conflicts.
ASEAN's call for action comes amid rising confrontations between China and ASEAN members like the Philippines and Vietnam over disputed waters.
The South China Sea is a strategic waterway where $3 trillion in trade passes annually, heightening the stakes of unresolved territorial disputes.
ASEAN urges an immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar and advocates for inclusive peace talks to address the ongoing civil war.
Efforts to reach a consensus at the East Asia Summit were hindered by Russia and China's objections to language regarding the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea