... has the upper hand in its dealings with the United States," Maavak believes.
"If the intention was to intimidate China over North Korea's nuclear sabre-rattling, then Beijing will likely raise the stakes by providing an additional ... ... suggested.
"Even if Trump had promised a quid pro quo in terms of tacit US recognition over Chinese territorial claims in the South China Sea, it won't go down well with US-friendly nations in ASEAN. Furthermore, no one would trust a US president who will attack a nation just days after proffering rapprochement, as was ...
... reformers, starting with Deng Xiaoping himself, said Singapore was to be imitated in its state governance model).
Things started to take a different turn in 2009, largely due to China conducting a more active policy in regard to the problems in the South China Sea. This complicated China–ASEAN relations somewhat, but it was not the only reason for changes. China set out to consistently expand its political influence on the ASEAN countries. Its greatest success was achieved in deepening its influence in the ASEAN’s poorest countries ...
... of war reparations and the blighted lives of future generations of Vietnamese babies over a few islands?
Or will it resort to another round of musical chairs when future regional developments require an opportunistic recalibration yet again? As for China and claimant ASEAN nations, all parties should continue holding regional dialogues towards a final settlement in the South China Sea, no matter how long it takes.
Asia should resolve its own problems without entangling Janus-faced outsiders.
... ASEAN have rarely, if ever, escalated beyond legal wrangling and diplomatic rhetoric. It took decades for Malaysia to resolve a territorial dispute with both Indonesia (Ligatan and Sipadan Islands) and Singapore (Pedra Branca).
It's not just China that is laying claim to contested waters or islands in the South China Sea. Many ASEAN nations have similar disputes among themselves. But again, the Western media mendaciously depicts these disputes as a China vs ASEAN affair.
Panview: Can we expect ASEAN to play a larger diplomatic role in the Asia-Pacific region? What is the ...
