Concerned about a united ASEAN
An ASEAN diplomat said “China is worried that ASEAN will issue a joint statement following the final ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
That’s why Beijing publicly courted some ASEAN members, while conducting behind-the scene diplomacy to persuade them not to act in the interests of the other members.
Laos, Cambodia and Brunei have not made any official comment on the 4-point agreement. On April 25 in Indonesia, ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh repeated the ASEAN 6-point stance of respecting international laws, the 1982 UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea and the principle of resolving disputes peacefully and refraining from acts that change the status quo in the East Sea.
ASEAN calls for fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea signed by China and ASEN in 2002 and speeding up negotiations for the Code of Conduct in the East Sea.
Thailand’s official media outlets recently posted an article warning of China’s acts in the East Sea and urging ASEAN to be united to wisely deal with such acts.
A peaceful, stable and developing ASEAN is impossible without stability in the East Sea. Creating consensus and promoting unity among members should be included in the agenda of ASEAN meetings, including the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to be held in July in Laos.
This will be a test of ASEAN unity following the recent formation of an ASEAN community.
