The South China Morning Post reports that “red tape and conflicting sovereignty interests are hindering ­efforts to set up a coastguard code of conduct in the South China Sea, despite the rising risk of ­confrontation, observers said.”  

“They said part of the problem was that coastguards often fell under various government agencies, especially in China where the authorities are still centralising maritime law enforcement, making it difficult for Beijing to commit to a code.”  

“Tensions in the disputed waters have risen over China’s competing territorial claims with Southeast Asian neighbours and close encounters between Chinese and US military vessels. But Asia-Pacific naval chiefs ­approved a code of conduct two years ago to defuse unexpected encounters between navy vessels and aircraft.”