While it is the first time that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) failed to come up with a joint communique, it not so surprising especially when at the middle of it all is China.
ASEAN flag (Creative Commons)
The recent meeting of ASEAN foreign ministers and the regional bloc's dialogue partners failed to make any statement regarding the brewing tension at the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), where a two-month on-off standoff has been ongoing between the Philippine and Chinese militaries. China, the Philippines, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Brunei have conflicting claims over the sea believed to have huge gas and oil deposits and rich marine resources. China claims almost entirely the South China Sea while the rest are claiming parts, specifically the ones within their 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zones.
Leaders of the Philippines and Viet Nam were particularly upset that the ASEAN ministers failed to openly support their members that are being bullied by China. It is worth noting that the Philippines is one of the five (with Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore) founding countries of the bloc.
ASEAN's current chair, Cambodia, was apparently pressured not to mention the issue of the West Philippine Sea because of its trade dependence on China. Chinese leaders warned, even before the summit started, ASEAN leaders that including the issue of the contested sea was counter-productive to its relations with the bloc. China wants to deal with the issue bilaterally and not with ASEAN. Other members, notably Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Laos have important and strategic trade relationship with China. They don't want to offend the powerful country for fear of losing their business interest.
Ernest Bower, senior adviser and director of the Southeast Asia Program at Center for Strategic and International Studies said the Philippines despite the latest event should not give up on ASEAN because clearly "a divided ASEAN is for the best interest of China."
If every nation and regional bloc like ASEAN is at the beck and call of China, then it has just to give up its sovereignty. China appears to have mustered too much strength it acts as a patron that can decide when to push and pull the strings.
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