ASEAN-Australia Special Summit 2018
Southeast Asian leaders and Australia's prime minister called for non-militarization and a code of conduct in the contested waters of the South China Sea, where China has become increasingly assertive.
A joint statement was issued Sunday by leaders at the first summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to be held in Australia, underscoring Canberra's growing involvement in regional security issues, despite China's opposition.
"We emphasize the importance of non-militarization and the need to enhance mutual trust and confidence, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities and avoid actions that may complicate the situation," the statement said.
China and the five countries that have conflicting territorial claims over the South China Sea, including four ASEAN members, have been moving ahead in negotiations for a code of conduct for the busy waterway aimed at reducing the risks of armed confrontations in the contested areas.
The ASEAN nations are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
China has yet to comment on the statement, but in past has strongly opposed what it considers intervention by outside players such as the U.S., Japan and Australia, in affairs related to the South China Sea. —AP
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has said that the displacement of Rohingya Muslims was no longer solely a domestic issue for Myanmar, as Southeast Asian nations signed a counterterrorism cooperation agreement at a regional leaders' conference.
"Because of the suffering of the Rohingya people and their displacement around the region, the situation in Rakhine state in Myanmar can no longer be considered to be a purely domestic matter," Najib said in closing comments before the signing of the counterterrorism agreement. "In addition, the problem should not be looked at through the humanitarian prism only, because it has the potential of developing into a serious security threat to the region." — AP
Southeast Asian leaders will sign an agreement on regional cooperation against violent extremism as the risk to the region grows due to militants fleeing Islamic State group losses in the Middle East, an official said on Saturday. — AP
An Australian newspaper has reported that a joint communique which will be issued after the ASEAN-Australia summit would most likely include statements supporting freedom of navigation and resolving disputes through international law.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano has arrived in Sydney to represent President Rodrigo Duterte in the first ASEAN-Australia Summit.
The two-day leaders' dialogue is expected to focus on political-security, business and other regional concerns.
"What we will be highlighting in Sydney is the role the Philippines plays and could play not just as a participant but as an active contributor to regional counter-terrorism efforts," Cayetano earlier said. — Patricia Lourdes Viray
Australia is hosting a special summit of Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders in Sydney.
Earlier, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has been criticized for welcoming some of the Southeast Asian leaders to his hometown, including Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who have been singled out by protesters. — AP
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