China, ASEAN clash over South China Sea as code negotiations stall
China and Southeast Asian nations are locked in mounting tensions over the disputed South China Sea. In July 2026, China and the Philippines clashed three times in a single week at Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal, with Chinese coast guards using water cannons against Philippine vessels. These confrontations have disrupted negotiations on a Code of Conduct meant to manage tensions in the contested waterway. A 2016 international tribunal ruled against China's sweeping territorial claims, but Beijing has rejected that decision. ASEAN and China aimed to finalize a binding code by end of 2026, with the Philippines now holding the ASEAN chairmanship, yet major disagreements persist over the agreement's scope, legal status, and enforcement. Meanwhile, maritime confrontations continue to escalate, with the US condemning Chinese actions and reinforcing its defense commitment to the Philippines through joint military drills with Japanese partners.
Key facts
- A 2016 international tribunal ruled China's nine-dash line claim has no legal basis in international law; China rejected this ruling
- China and Philippines clashed three times in July 2026 at Scarborough Shoal and Second Thomas Shoal, prompting joint U.S.-Philippines-Japan drills
- Chinese coast guards used water cannons against Philippine vessels conducting resupply missions near disputed shoals in July 2026
- ASEAN and China aimed to finalize a legally binding Code of Conduct by July 2026, but negotiations remain stalled over scope, legal status, and enforcement mechanisms
- China expanded coast guard deployments, installed uncrewed buoys at Scarborough Shoal, and began new military construction at Antelope Reef in the Paracel Islands
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning and progressive analysis stresses China's violation of international law, particularly the 2016 tribunal ruling and UNCLOS principles. Emphasis falls on the importance of binding legal frameworks and the need for international accountability in upholding freedom of navigation and exclusive economic zones.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning sources emphasize China's aggressive military expansion, territorial seizure through island-building, and harassment tactics as destabilizing threats. They stress U.S. alliance commitments to the Philippines, frame Chinese actions as 'naked aggression,' and call for stronger Western deterrence and military support to counter Beijing's regional dominance.
Limits of this briefing
China's official stance on incidents is often contested; state media and government statements frequently dispute Philippine and Western accounts of confrontations. Some ASEAN members, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia, maintain more neutral positions and are not consistently represented in English-language Western media sources.
Sources
- Council on Foreign Relations: Territorial Disputes in the South China Sea Centre
- East Asia Forum: Drifting through dispute in the South China Sea Centre
- The Washington Times: War of words between China and Philippines over South China Sea claims Right
- CNN: Chinese ship shoots water cannon at Philippine vessel near South China Sea flashpoint Centre
- The Diplomat: Philippines Hoping to Conclude South China Sea Code of Conduct in 2026 Centre