Foreign Minister Shanmugam regrets bloc's inability to agree on common
statement on South China Sea dispute
PHNOM PENH - The Association of
South-east Asian Nations' (ASEAN) failure to reach consensus and issue a joint
communique at the end of its meetings in Cambodia this week - a first in the
bloc's 45-year history - has put "a severe dent" on its credibility,
said Singapore's Foreign Minister K Shanmugam.
The failure underscores deep
divisions within the 10-member bloc amid conflicting territorial claims in the
resource-rich South China Sea involving four of its members plus China and
Taiwan.
Some members have traded blame on
the failure while several officials have expressed disappointment with the
outcome, which has cast doubt on plans to establish a regional economic
community by 2015.
"To put it bluntly, it is a
severe dent on ASEAN's credibility. We talk about issues in the world in past
communiques, but we are unable to deal with something that's happening right
here in the neighbourhood and say something about it," said Mr Shanmugam.
"It is absolutely clear to
all of us that we ought not to take any sides on any disputes. That is out of
the question.
"The question is whether we
can come up with a consensus or form of reflecting a desire to move forward on
these issues in a way that is win-win for everyone. … It is sad that we are not
even able to agree on that. We talk about ASEAN centrality, ASEAN neutrality,
ASEAN connectivity, ASEAN community in 2015, but before all of that, is the
central issue of credibility."
The bloc's inability to agree on
a communique is unprecedented, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa
said. "This is strange territory for me," he told reporters.
"It's very, very disappointing that, at this 11th hour, ASEAN is not able
to rally around a certain common language on the South China Sea. We've gone
through so many problems in the past, but we've never failed to speak as
one."
The ministerial summit broke down
on Thursday. Participants had earlier agreed on key aspects of a draft maritime
Code of Conduct but talks foundered after China insisted the ASEAN forum was
not the appropriate place to discuss the matter. An emergency meeting called
for early yesterday morning failed to break the deadlock.
ASEAN Secretary-General Surin
Pitsuwan said the Philippines and Vietnam wanted the communique to include a
reference to a recent standoff between China and the Philippines at a shoal in
the South China Sea claimed by both countries.
The Philippine Department of
Foreign Affairs issued a statement yesterday lambasting host Cambodia - a close
ally of China - for "consistently opposing any mention of the Scarborough
Shoal".
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor
Namhong said his government does not support any side in the disputes, adding
that the failure to issue a statement lies with all ASEAN members, not just
Cambodia. "I have told my colleagues that the meeting of the ASEAN foreign
ministers is not a court, a place to give a verdict about the dispute," he
said.
However, Mr Yang Razali Kassim,
Senior Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said:
"Cambodia has to take responsibility for this debacle, which has crucial
lessons for ASEAN unity going forward."
He added: "This failure to
display a united ASEAN stand on strategic issues when under pressure reflects
Cambodia's leanings towards China, which Phnom Penh seemed to favour, over
solidarity with fellow ASEAN members over the territorial dispute. In so doing,
Cambodia as the ASEAN chair shows its lack of experience and diplomatic skill
as chair to preserve ASEAN solidarity."
Associate Professor Antonio
Rappa, Head of Management and Security Studies at SIM University's School of
Business, said that in the next few weeks, "it will be important for ASEAN
to reassert its position" and "come together".
The differences represent a
learning experience for ASEAN, said Mr Surin, who added that the failure to
issue a communique - which serves as a record of decisions at the summit -
means that ASEAN will not be able to proceed on some of the action points it
agreed to, such as a joint institute for peace and reconciliation to be located
in Jakarta.
Mr Shanmugam also elaborated on
the implications to Singapore. "I have previously remarked the
international political environment is one where the rules are often unclear
between big and small countries. We are a small country and, for us, the more
rules of engagement and a structured framework within countries particularly in
the region have to operate, the better it is for us. Otherwise, the smallest
country on the totem pole would be left without rules."
Agencies
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