Four Asean members – Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei – have competing claims with Beijing over parts of the South China Sea. State-run Xinhua news agency said Wang “highly appreciates Cambodia’s efforts to uphold justice over the South China Sea issue”. South-east Asian nations have ducked direct criticism of China over its claims in the South China Sea, in a diluted statement produced after days of disagreement that gives the superpower a diplomatic victory. Related: How China's artificial islands led to tension in the South China SeaBut Asean operates on a tradition of consensus diplomacy, meaning a single nation can have an effective veto if it disagrees. The contested sea, through which $5tn in shipping passes annually, has been a source of increasing tension between China and its south-east Asian neighbours as well as the US.

Source: The Guardian July 25, 2016 07:17 UTC