Asean and China reach consensus on some South China Sea issues

Vientiane, Laos

CONSENSUS has been reached between Asean and China on some key issues on the South China Sea, although official statements have avoided mentioning a recent international ruling against Beijing's territorial claims in the waters.

Two agreements over the South China Sea were struck at the 19th Asean-China summit on Wednesday - one on protocols for unplanned encounters in those waters, and the other on hotline communications between senior diplomats from Asean and China.