Simon Tay on ASEAN and the South China Sea

Writing about the recent US-Philippines military exercises, and ongoing difficulties over the South China Sea, Simon Tay (1 May) cautions:

“ASEAN should not automatically back the Philippines. Nor should the Aquino government expect unquestioning support from the group if the Filipinos seem to be the ones who are provoking the issue, rather than the Chinese.

“What needs to be done by ASEAN is to reinforce the multilateral setting for dialogue about the South China Sea and other issues…

“Bilateral security alliances – like that between the US and the Philippines – were once accepted benignly as a foundation for Pax Americana.

“They will undoubtedly continue…

“Today's need, however, is not for more aggressive alliances with the US, targeted against anyone. The region needs to, instead, pursue and strengthen wider processes that can engage both the US and China.

“Almost all agree that keeping the Americans in Asia can be positive. But equally, the region must understand that treating Beijing as an outsider and presuming it to always be the aggressor is a dangerous and potentially self-fulfilling prophecy.”

Wise words...