JULY 17 — The Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ (ASEAN) failure to issue a communique at the end of the ministerial meeting hosted in Cambodia last week shocked many.
Reports indicate the drafting floundered on the issue of the South China Sea where the sovereignty of different islets is disputed.
The Philippines wished to record that the matter had been discussed whereas Cambodia, which currently chairs the group, felt that any mention would compromise ASEAN neutrality. Full story
