To promote a peaceful and stable environment in the South China Sea, ASEAN Member States and China issued the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) in 2002. The document reflects the consensus reached by all Parties on seeking peaceful solution of disputes and pursuing maritime cooperation in order to maintain regional stability in the South China Sea. This is in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including those enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC). It also constitutes a significant instrument in promoting trust, confidence-building and cooperation in the South China Sea. The Guidelines for the Implementation of the DOC was subsequently agreed in 2011. ASEAN Member States and China are currently engaged in negotiations of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC), which commenced in March 2018 with the first reading of the Single Draft COC Negotiating Text (SDNT). All parties are committed to the early conclusion of a substantive and effective COC.

Practical maritime cooperation initiatives had also been undertaken under the Work Plan for the Implementation of the DOC. This includes various workshops, trainings, and seminars to promote dialogue and confidence-building over the years, particularly in the areas of:

• marine environmental protection;
• marine scientific research;
• safety of navigation and communication at sea;
• search and rescue operation; and
• combating transnational crime, including trafficking in illicit drugs, piracy and armed robbery at sea, and illegal arms trafficking.