The foreign ministers of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have gathered for talks that are expected to focus on the economy, terrorism, security, cybersecurity and transnational cooperation.
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US and Chinese officials were meeting ASEAN ministers as part of broader talks.
China claims most of the sea, but ASEAN members the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have rival claims. The report said the missiles, which have been on Woody Island, the largest in the disputed Parcel Islands claimed by China and Vietnam in the South China Sea were probably shipped back to the mainland for maintenance by a Type 072A landing ship docked in the island’s harbour. “Laos is hiding behind its role ASEAN chairman and not saying anything but at the same time it is careful not to offend China”, the diplomat said.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said that Asean operated by consensus and that Cambodia’s government had no interest in getting involved in a dispute over sovereignty between China and other members of the bloc.
Laos described the initial meeting of foreign ministers as “candid and constructive” but by mid-afternoon there was little sign of a breakthrough. Of the 19, 14 countries (including Malaysia, Venezuela, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo) have taken China’s side on the issue of the South China Sea, while only participating in either the military parade or in the investment bank.
“I don’t think that ASEAN will somehow miraculously produce a statement on the South China Sea”, said Sun Yun, with the U.S.-based think tank Stimson Centre.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and the foreign ministers from China and other large Asian powers, plan to meet with the group this week.
Ms Retno’s remarks yesterday raised fears that the South China Sea issue may derail the communique as it did in Phnom Penh in 2012.
Wang said the South China Sea was only a “small part” of the issues concerning Asean and China’s priority was to promote a code of conduct for the waters.
Asean ministers were meeting for the first time since the ruling on 12 July by the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which found there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or resources.
One Asean diplomat said the group had given itself until tomorrow to reach an agreement and issue a statement.
Host Laos said that the meetings in the days ahead involving China, the USA and others, will be a chance for the major powers to engage one another and build trust to help ensure peace and stability in the region and the world as a whole.
The stalemate puts pressure on ASEAN’s cherished unity and also gives an upper hand to China, which has used every diplomatic means at its disposal to stave off wider worldwide criticism over moves it’s made in the South China Sea that have impacted four Southeast Asian countries.
“For Laos and Cambodia, they clearly see relations with China as more important than their membership in ASEAN and are willing to damage ASEAN to aid their relations with China”, said Cook, the analyst.
China has rejected the ruling as bogus, and called for bilateral negotiations with the Philippines.
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Still, China has refused to acknowledge the ruling and has been building up its military presence in the South China Sea in recent years, even constructing artificial islands in the area.
