New Delhi, Nov. 12 -- China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations began negotiating and holding consultations on the so-called "code of conduct" around 2005 to prevent occasional confrontations in the disputed waters from turning into a major conflict that could threaten Asia's economies. The accord mainly calls for self-restraint and discourages aggressive acts that could spark clashes in the waterway that is a key global trade route.

After years of closed-door negotiations, which at times were delayed due to tense clashes in the contested waters, China and ASEAN agreed in 2023 to speed up the negotiations and conclude the talks by this year.

Three senior Southeast Asian diplomats with direct knowledge of the negotiations told...