Issues on land reclamations and other illegal activities in the South China Sea seem to remain unaddressed despite calls for restraint from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the absence of a sea conduct as leaders of the regional bloc renewed for the 18th time their concerns on the waters during their bi-annual gathering.

Indonesia, the current chair of the ASEAN, only repeated the same position and concerns that the regional bloc had raised in the past one and a half decade.

Indonesia gave an update about the regional bloc's position on the South China Sea. But it only reiterated the same updates that were being given since the 26th ASEAN Summit, which was chaired by Malaysia in 2015.

"We discussed the situation in the South China Sea, during which concerns were expressed by some ASEAN Member States on the land reclamations, activities, serious incidents in the area, including actions that put the safety of​ all persons at risk, damage to the marine environment​," the chair's statement for the 43rd ASEAN read.

In the 25th ASEAN chair statement by Myanmar, there was no mention that leaders talked about land reclamations and other illegal activities in the waters, although it said it "remained concern over situation" there.

Despite repeatedly calling such the dangerous actions as something that "have eroded​ trust and confidence, increased tensions, and may undermine peace,​ security,​ and stability in the region​," ASEAN's messages of concern and call for action have remained the same.

​"We reaffirmed the need to enhance mutual trust​ and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would​ complicate or escalate disputes and affect peace and stability, and avoid​ actions that may further complicate the situation​," it said.

Over the past recent years, increased aggression by China over the South China Sea issue were felt by various ASEAN members.

Recently, it released its 2023 standard map featuring a 10-dash line, from a previous nine-dash line, that lays claim to the territories of five ASEAN members—the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei. The five countries have already rejected such a map.

​The Chinese Coast Guard also recently attacked Philippine and Vietnamese personnel in the South China Sea with a water cannon in two separate incidents. The attack reportedly left two Vietnamese injured.

Dangerous maneuvers, laser pointing and verbal challenges were also committed by China against personnel of some ASEAN states patrolling the vast sea.

"We further reaffirmed the need to pursue peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with the universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS," the current chair's statement read.

"We emphasised the importance of non-militarisation and self-restraint in the conduct of all activities by claimants and all other states, including those mentioned in the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) that could further complicate the situation and escalate tensions in the South China Sea," it added.

During the ASEAN-China Summit, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said "trust and concrete cooperation can become the positive force for regional stability and peace."

Meanwhile, Chinese Premier Li Qiang, during the ASEAN Plus Three Summit, called on ASEAN members, Japan and South Korea to oppose the "new cold war" and ensure "that disagreements and disputes among countries are properly handled."