Manila - Diplomats from the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) failed to convince China to agree to a "code of conduct" to ease tensions in the disputed Spratly islands and other areas in the South China Sea, officials said yesterday.
The Philippine Foreign Under-Secretary, Mr Lauro Baja, said the meeting last weekend in the Chinese city of Dalian failed to make progress because the officials taking part refused to make any substantive changes in their positions.