Cardinal principle biggest headache for members

VIENtIANE: For 49 years, the unity of Southeast Asia’s main political grouping Asean – has hinged on its founding principle: decisions by consensus.

But that cardinal principle is now proving to be the biggest headache for its members, who began important meetings deeply divided on how to deal with China’s territorial expansion in the South China Sea.

After preparatory meetings of senior officials, the foreign ministers of the 10 members of Asean will gather today for talks that are expected to focus on the economy, terrorism, security, cybersecurity and transnational cooperation.

This will be followed by a series of talks in the following days with the United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, India, Australia and New Zealand.

While the agenda of the meetings is extensive, the focus behind the scenes is expected to be on the July 12 decision by a Hague-based tribunal in a dispute between China and the Philippines.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration found that China had no basis for the expansive claims it has made on territorial waters around the Philippines. China has similar claims against other Asean nations, including Vietnam and Malaysia, and the ruling should have emboldened the grouping to challenge China more forcibly.

One avenue for Asean to show its teeth is at its foreign ministers’ meeting, through a joint statement at the end.

Easier said than done, however, with the nagging consensus principle getting in the way.

Laos, which has assumed the rotating chairmanship of Asean this year, is a staunch China ally and is unlikely to allow an open slap by other regional colleagues on a trusted friend. By its side is Cambodia, another China ally.

Including a reference to the tribunal’s ruling in the final communique “is a difficult issue that requires efforts of all parties,” said Tran Viet Thai, deputy director of the Institute of Strategic Studies, a Vietnamese think-tank group.

Still, Asean will have to make a statement on the ruling, Thai said.

“They cannot avoid it at such a major and international event,” he said. “The issue is how Laos will play their host role and how other countries contribute to the success of the meetings.”

Thai also described the tribunal’s ruling as very important because, theoretically at least, it should help resolve disputes, uphold the law and clarify the stance of the various parties. — AP