A meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Phnom Penh has ended with foreign ministers from the 10-member bloc failing to reach agreement on a code of conduct to ease tensions in the South China Sea.

The Philippines slammed the disarray at the end of the talks on Friday, saying it deplored the failure of ASEAN ministers to issue a joint communique.

China claims sovereignty over most of the resource-rich sea, of which areas are also claimed by the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Vietnam and Taiwan

China has been accused of using its influence over meeting host Cambodia to block any discussion of the South China Sea dispute.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said ASEAN should not get involved in territorial disputes.