Chinese pressure was blamed today for a stunning diplomatic U-turn by Southeast Asian Nations that saw them retract a statement sounding alarm over Beijing’s island building in the South China Sea.
The chaotic events at the end of a meeting of Foreign Ministers from China and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Tuesday have led to allegations of bullying by Beijing.
The document, released by ASEAN member Malaysia and described as a joint statement from the bloc, warned developments in the hotly contested South China Sea could “undermine peace, security and stability”. The statement specified “land reclamation” as a source of tension, a clear reference to China’s massive island building activities where it is trying to cement a claim to almost the whole sea.