On 14–15 September 2013, senior diplomats from China and the 10 ASEAN countries gathered in Suzhou, China, to discuss many subjects, most notably the process of hammering out a "code of conduct" (CoC) for the South China Sea. For many, the talks have provided a degree of reassurance about improved freedom and safety of navigation in the hotly disputed sea — after all, a large percentage of the world's trade, including shipments of oil, passes through the South China Sea. Some regional powers also saw the event as an opportunity to keep a closer eye on China; But those who expect the ASEAN–China discussions to result in some kind of breakthrough that will lead quickly to a resolution are bound to be disappointed.
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