No more provocations

The Association of Southeast Asian Na- tions meetings in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, last week, yielded many results in promoting regional cooperation. However, for the first time in the association's history, ASEAN foreign ministers failed to issue their customary joint statement showcasing common ground after their annual meeting on Friday.

Such an outcome no doubt frustrated Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, as his country, along with Vietnam, had tried in vain to persuade the other members to agree to a strongly worded document supporting them in their South China Sea disputes with China.

To confront China over the issue, the two countries have chosen to sow the seeds of discord in ASEAN, a move that is sure to harm the association's solidarity.