Recently, U.S. officials have reported an escalation in Chinese construction developments in the South China Sea. Satellite images of the islands in the disputed region show several potential military facilities close to completion, giving rise to renewed conversation about a binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

On Current Affairs, we discuss what to expect from the COC's framework, the difference between a Code of Conduct and the existing Declaration, and the feasibility of ASEAN's efforts to address Chinese militarisation in the South China Sea.

This is a report by Lyn Mak.