T. V. Paul, currently a visiting professor at RSIS, NTU, wrote in his commentary that member states of Asean have been pursuing a strategy based largely on soft balancing and diplomatic engagement towards China for over three decades. Adding a new approach by declaring the South China Sea as a zone of peace, under UN auspices, and encouraging the great powers to sign protocols respecting such a zone may have long-term value. A code of conduct for the South China Sea is important but it could be part of a larger zone of peace idea so that other parameters can be developed to restrain great power competition.