Gov't plays down ASEAN split over South China Sea

[geovalin]

Jack Davies

The Cambodian government yesterday sought to downplay reports of a split within ASEAN over the ongoing South China Sea dispute.

China’s Foreign Ministry on Sunday announced that China had reached an agreement with Cambodia, Laos and Brunei that countries should deal with China individually in the dispute rather than as a bloc.

ASEAN secretary-general Le Luong Minh yesterday expressed concern that any such development would be a deviation from a 2012 agreement that ASEAN member countries would negotiate as a unified body.

read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/govt-plays-down-asean-split-over-south-china-sea

[Srikcir]

So much for the cohesiveness of the ASEAN Community.

Thailand can forget becoming the Hub of ASEAN - it's China. Thailand's benevolent trading and security partner just undercut Thailand.