However, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic this year had become a major stumbling block in reaching the target, as negotiators were unable to meet physically to complete the instrument.

Diplomats from the region have invariably complained about the security concerns that come with exercising diplomacy under virtual settings, with many countries insisting on using their own preferred “meeting” methods.

An Indonesian official has even said it would be very difficult to negotiate the COC text in this manner.

Read also: South China Sea COC can’t be negotiated virtually: RI official

In his remarks at the China-ASEAN Summit held online last week, Li said China remained “committed and determined to conclude the COC consultations at an early date”, but he glossed over the three-year deadline that falls at the end of next year.

Instead, the senior Chinese official called on all parties to overcome the effects of COVID-19 by thinking “creatively” and speeding up the talks “in a flexible and pragmatic way”, so as to prove to the world that China and ASEAN could properly manage the situation in the South China Sea.

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