ANALYSTS have criticized the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for doing China’s bidding, which was championed by Cambodia, China’s agent country in Asean, to disregard the UNCLOS Tribunal’s landmark ruling granting the Philippine petition against China’s takeover of the Philippine territories in the South China/West Philippine Sea and ordering China to stop its aggressive activities.
Some of the analysts also warned that Asean’s “watered-down” statement at the end of the group’s foreign ministers summit in Cambodia “could diminish the grouping’s already waning clout.”
The Japan Times report by Jesse Johnson said, “The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) avoided mentioning in its annual foreign ministers’ communiqué the July 12 ruling by the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration, instead offering the equivalent of a slap on the wrist to China, the group’s biggest trading partner, over its moves in the disputed waters.” The report quoted the Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at Victoria University of Wellington, David Capie, who said, “The choice was between a weak statement or no statement. This isn’t the first time Asean has avoided mentioning the elephant in the room in order to get consensus. But it underscores Asean’s weakness and raises questions about its relevance.”

http://www.manilatimes.net/un-pca-ruling-helps-disputants-worldwide/276621/