Naval officials of the United States and Asia Pacific countries forged an agreement on Tuesday to observe and improve communications at sea in order to avoid accidents and misunderstandings amid the rising tension between countries over territorial issues.

The agreement, dubbed "The Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea", is composed of a series of instructions translated into regional languages for the different Navies to follow when encountering ships of other countries. 

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Reports said the Code also addresses situations in which there is a potential confrontation between countries in the sea lanes that could possibly lead into a conflict.

The Code also hopes to lessen accidents such as collisions in the waters surrounding Japan, China and Southeast Asia.

The code takes into account the Japan-China territorial disputes and hopes it will de-escalate the tensions between the two nations.

The agreement was unanimously approved by all of the Asia Pacific nations that attended the China-led Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao. 
The US, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Peru, Chile and several other countries signed the agreement.

US officials said China's adoption of the Code showed its willingness to cooperate with its neighbors even though the agreement was not legally binding.
Reports said although the US does not take sides on the China-Japan dispute, it recognizes Japan's administration of the chain of islands and will come to its succor to help protect its territories under the mutual defense treaty.

China's navy commander, Admiral Wu Shengli , welcomed the agreement saying it will help tremendously in humanitarian missions and provide ways and means to prevent conflict in the area.