China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks to media at a press conference during the 49th Asean Foreign Ministers Meeting. (EPA photo)VIENTIANE - Southeast Asian foreign ministers failed Monday to make a united assessment on an international tribunal's ruling that rejected China's claims to almost the entire South China Sea. Mr Wang also described the Asean ministers' views expressed over the South China Sea in the statement as having "no new wording" and said he confirmed that most Asean members do not take sides over the ruling. Speaking in a group interview, Mr Minh said he was upbeat that Asean was able to reaffirm its fundamental position that the South China Sea disputes should be resolved peacefully through legal and diplomatic processes. Asean Secretary-General Le Luong Minh called the communique a victory - "in a sense" - even if it did not touch on an international tribunal's ruling that rejected China's claims to almost the entire South China Sea.

Source: Bangkok Post July 25, 2016 19:30 UTC