China throws Asean into disarray

VIENTIANE: Southeast Asian nations are in unparalleled disarray over Beijing’s sabre-rattling in the South China Sea, analysts and insiders say, with the fractures set to deepen as staunch China ally Laos hosts top regional diplomats this weekend.

United States Secretary of State John Kerry and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi are among the delegates due to fly in tomorrow for meetings here.

The South China Sea is set to cast a long shadow over the summit, which is hosted by Asean.

Earlier this month, a United Nations-backed tribunal found there was no legal basis for China’s claims to most of the strategic and resource-rich seas — a ruling rejected by Beijing.

Asean prides itself on consensus diplomacy but divisions have never been starker with Beijing blamed for driving a wedge between members.

The Philippines brought the international arbitration case, while Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also have competing claims to parts of the sea.

But Cambodia and Laos are Beijing loyalists, with both impoverished nations weaned on Chinese aid and investment.

Shortly after The Hague ruling, Beijing announced more than half a billion dollars in soft loans for Cambodia.

“China has succeeded in splitting Asean on the South China Sea issue through its allies Laos and Cambodia,” an Asean diplomat told AFP.

The bloc’s inability to remain united “will surely weaken Asean, not just on the South China Sea problem but as a regional grouping”, the diplomat said.

Asean initially touted itself as the best forum for China to negotiate with rival claimants over the sea, given so many are members.

But Beijing has resisted that approach, insisting that territorial disputes must be settled bilaterally.

As a result, Beijing has successfully moved to divide the bloc.

Diplomats are already in Vientiane trying to hash out a response to this month’s tribunal ruling before the foreign ministers arrive.

But insiders say consensus is a long way off. AFP