What Beijing really wants from South China Sea code of conduct

Beijing shows cooperative face, but its quest for regional dominance continues

Chinese President Xi Jinping reviews a naval flotilla during the commemorations of the 70th anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy near Qingdao, China on April 23. © AP

TORU TAKAHASHI, Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Headquarters for Asia

August 12, 2019 13:20 JST

BANGKOK -- China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have made "major progress" in talks over a code of conduct aimed at reducing tensions in the South China Sea, according to China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

Speaking at a news conference in Bangkok after the annual China-ASEAN foreign ministers meeting on July 31, Wang attributed the momentum to the "sincerity and resolve of all parties."