The regional bloc ASEAN and China should make headway on a protracted code of conduct for South China Sea by tackling thorny "milestone issues", including its scope and if it can be legally binding.

Enhanced maritime cooperation among Asean members could help advance negotiations for a code of conduct in the South China Sea, says Philippine foreign secretary Enrique Manalo. “We have the basic negotiations between the Asean countries and China,

ASEAN and China are urged to resolve 'milestone issues' in their South China Sea code of conduct talks, including its scope and legal binding status. The Philippines emphasizes the need for substantive discussions,

Southeast Asian foreign ministers hold a closed-doors retreat in Malaysia on Sunday, as the country hosts its first meeting as chair of the regional bloc ASEAN amid an intensifying civil war in Myanmar and confrontations in the South China Sea.