A maritime affairs expert believes it may be time to lower expectations on forging a legally binding Code of Conduct in the South China Sea.

University of the Philippines Professor Jay Batongbacal said in an interview with ANC, circumstances have changed since 2002 when the original idea for a code of conduct was hatched.

"Right now, because of all the events that have taken place since then, we probably need to question whether that idea can still be pursued and whether the original high expectations can be still be met," he said.

"Maybe we need to step back and think whether we should, shall we say, lower the expectations, or limit the areas of this code of conduct. It may not be as expansive or as comprehensive as we thought," he added.

Batongbacal was involved in the team that originally drafted the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay believes a legally binding code of conduct can be forged this year after the Philippines assumed the leadership of ASEAN this year.

But, Batongbacal asserted, the code of conduct may not be as useful if China will not abide by the agreement.