China argues the disputes have nothing to do with its relationship with Asean and has dismissed the international ruling. The Permanent Court of Arbitration said on July 12 that China’s efforts to assert control over the South China Sea had "aggravated" tensions, "inflicted irreparable harm" to the environment and "violated" Philippine sovereign rights. Indonesia should step up and play a greater leadership role in Southeast Asia’s management of maritime disputes with China, a group of foreign policy experts and academics said in an open letter. The academics were responding to an international tribunal’s ruling this month rejecting China’s claim to exclusive control of most of the South China Sea, which hosts more than $5 trillion in international trade each year. ‘Dimming lights’“We are cognizant of Asean’s dimming lights and growing marginalization in managing the tension in the South China Sea, which may worsen as the tribunal’s ruling could inspire less, not more, confidence in the grouping’s centrality,” the Indonesian open letter said.

Source: Thanhnien News July 27, 2016 10:41 UTC