ABSTRACT
The South China Sea has been on the agenda of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) since the early 1990s, and it has been the cause for both unity and disunity within the organization. This chapter provides an overview of the history of ASEAN and describes how it has evolved since its establishment in 1967. It describes the ASEAN bodies and the ASEAN-led mechanisms that deal with the South China Sea disputes, and how these bodies and mechanisms have addressed the South China Sea disputes in the “ASEAN Way”. It then summarizes the history of the negotiations between ASEAN and China leading to the Declaration of the Conduct and their ongoing negotiations on a Code of Conduct. Finally, the chapter considers the potential impact of ASEAN’s outlook on the Indo-Pacific on the South China Sea disputes.
