Asean – blowin’ in the wind

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (6th R) and foreign ministers from ASEAN-member nations pose for a group photo during a special ASEAN-China foreign ministers meeting in Yuxi, southwest Chinas Yunnan Province on June 14, 2016.Countries in Southeast Asia have serious concerns over recent events in the disputed South China Sea, an unusually strongly worded communique issued by their foreign ministers in China said on June 14. / AFP PHOTO / STR / China OUT

THE most significant point about the “now you see it, now you don’t” joint statement by Asean foreign ministers on the South China Sea issue in Kunming last month is how China is able to unravel the regional group’s decision ex post facto.

In a meeting among themselves, the ministers had earlier decided to express their deep concern over China’s – not named of course – assertiveness, land reclamation activities and militarisation of the South China Sea, and its threat to peace and stability.