UNCLOS, the 2016 South China Sea Award, and the COC: Legal implications for Vietnam
Published: October 16, 2026
Abstract
Ten years after the Award of 12 July 2016 in the South China Sea Arbitration, negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) face the challenge of translating political commitments into an effective and substantive framework of conduct. Using doctrinal legal research combined with qualitative document analysis, this study examines the relationship among the dispute settlement mechanisms under UNCLOS, the 2016 Award, and the COC process. The findings show that the Award did not initiate the COC process but clarified the legal framework within which a future COC should operate. On this basis, the study identifies five legal requirements for an effective and substantive COC and analyzes the corresponding priorities for Vietnam.
Keywords
UNCLOS2016 South China Sea AwardCOCVietnamdispute settlement
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