China faces criticism at ASEANBy Gurjit SinghThe annual summit of East Asia and other events around the ASEAN summit in October and November every year have become the most important gathering of leaders in the Indo-Pacific region. Besides the main summit, this included the high-profile East Asia Summit, ASEAN summits with its dialogue partners and the ASEAN Plus Three Summit with China, Japan and South Korea. It was apparently the first time that maritime issues related to the South China Sea were raised by ASEAN members at the ASEAN-China meeting. India spoke more openly about keeping the South China Sea free and open and emphasizing UNCLOS, which ASEAN prefers. He was nevertheless clear that Japan opposes the continuing and intensifying activities that infringe upon its sovereignty in the East China Sea.

Source: Taipei Times October 12, 2024 16:51 UTC