Asean’s unity under challenge as power rivalries at East Asia Summit expose its weaknesses

A move by Russia and China to block an Asean-led statement at the summit reflects a ‘battleground between two blocs’, one analyst says

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Chinese Premier Li Qiang attends the East Asia Summit in Vientiane, Laos, on Friday. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 8:00am, 16 Oct 2024

Russia and China’s coordinated move to block a statement drafted by Southeast Asian countries for the East Asia Summit (EAS) is stoking concerns about the growing risks of Asean’s ability to remain neutral over divisive issues.

The statement supported by the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations and presented at the summit in Vientiane, Laos, last Thursday was blocked over objections to language concerning the disputed South China Sea, according to a US official who spoke to Reuters.

Alexander Vuving, a professor at the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies in Hawaii, said the development “indicates an unprecedented level of Sino-Russian solidarity in opposition to Asean unity”.

He noted that it was likely the first time Russia had partnered with China to block an EAS statement that had been unanimously approved by Asean.

The US, Japan, Australia, South Korea and India had said they would support the draft statement, the official said. “The Russians and the Chinese said that they could not and would not proceed with a statement,” the official added.

Comprising 18 members - 10 from Asean and its eight dialogue partners Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the US – the Asean-led EAS began in 2005 as a platform to discuss security issues. Since then, it has expanded its scope to include economic and development issues.