South China Sea ploys of US doomed to fail

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related events being held in Bangkok, Thailand, provide a chance for the 10-nation regional block to discuss with its major dialogue partners including China and the United States how to seek greater cooperation and tackle key concerns such as regional security and the disputes in the South China Sea.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, while trying to raise its own voice in regional affairs, has remained wary of having to choose between China and the US, a scenario that it believes would compromise its goal of sustainable growth.

After all, it is economic cooperation that tops the block's agenda, especially as negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership are expected to be completed by the end of this year. The proposed free trade agreement between ASEAN and its six partners including China, Japan and India will be the biggest in the world, accounting for 40 percent of the world's GDP and 30 percent of global trade.