Asean and China: navigating turbulent waters ahead

The USS Milius, a guided missile destroyer, docks in Manila on August 18 amid rising tensions in the South China Sea between the Philippines and China.

Singapore August 25, 2012
Yang Razali Kassim
RSIS

In this year, the 45th anniversary of Asean, Indonesia's foreign minister Marty Natalegawa expressed optimism that a regional code of conduct to govern behaviour in the South China Sea would be ready by year's end.

In so doing, he signalled Asean's shift to a new and more active phase to resolve the territorial disputes in the South China Sea by pushing for an early adoption of the long-stalled Code of Conduct (COC). Dr Natalegawa's confidence followed his success in securing an Asean consensus on a six-point statement of principles on the South China Sea in late July, after it failed to issue a joint communique at the group's annual meeting in Phnom Penh.

The statement has papered over the rift within Asean between members who are disputants in the South China Sea, and the Asean chair, who refused to seek a compromise position, resulting in the non-issuance of a joint communique for the first time in Asean's 45 year history. Cambodia will need to focus on repairing the fissures in Asean so that it can host a credible summit in November.

By shifting gear towards an early COC, Asean is also repairing the rift over the territorial disputes between some of its members and China, the region's emergent power. This has prompted a more cooperative posture on Beijing's part. China's foreign minister Yang Jiechi, on a visit to Jakarta on August 10, pledged to build mutual trust towards the eventual adoption of the COC.

Five ink deal to form rice cartel [-Will farmers benefit from rice price increase?]

Yanyong: 10% price rise acceptable

Goal is to boost price by 10% annually

23/08/2012
Bangkok Post

Five Asean rice-producing countries are joining forces to form a regional alliance with the ambitious goal to boost rice prices by 10% annually.

Trade ministers from Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos are scheduled to sign the agreement later this year to establish the Asean Rice Federation, said Yanyong Phuangrach, the commerce permanent secretary.

Mr Yanyong called the cooperation a first for a region that exports 20 million tonnes of rice a year.

The cooperation will help lift rice prices and the census is agreed among these members that rice is not only a staple but also a main source of revenue for them.

He said a 10% rise each year is acceptable and will not have significant effect on consumers.

"The cooperation can stabilise rice prices and ensure food security in the region," he told a press briefing yesterday.

A ship divided, with rough seas ahead

Aug 15, 2012
By Yang Razali Kassim
Today Online

On the 45th anniversary of ASEAN last week, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa expressed optimism that a regional code of conduct to govern behaviour in the South China Sea would be ready by year-end.

In doing so, he signalled ASEAN's shift to a new and more active phase to resolve the territorial disputes in the South China Sea by pushing for an early adoption of the long-stalled Code of Conduct (CoC).

Dr Natalegawa's confidence followed his success in securing an ASEAN consensus on a six-point statement of principles on the South China Sea late last month after it failed to issue a joint communique at the group's annual meeting in Phnom Penh.

Cambodia would need to focus on repairing the fissures in ASEAN so that it can host a credible second summit in November.

Making war or peace the Asean way

Analysis

Monday, August 13th
By: Amando Doronila
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The abrupt recall last month of Cambodian Ambassador Hos Sereythonh from Manila a year short of his three-year posting left shock waves in the capitals of 10 Southeast Asian nations and sparked speculation on whether the Philippines and tiny Cambodia had plunged into a serious diplomatic crisis, something like being on the brink of war.

Under diplomatic practice, envoys are relieved after an outrageous breach of protocol of civilized states, requiring urgent steps to avert armed conflict.

That was not the case when Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario made a surprise announcement to the press last week that the Cambodian foreign ministry had sent him a letter announcing that Sereythonh had been recalled and would not be able to complete his term that was supposed to end on July 27, 2013. The letter did not give any explanation for the relief.

Last month, Del Rosario summoned Sereythonh to explain comments to a Manila newspaper blaming the Philippines and Vietnam for trying to “sabotage and hijack” the 45th Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) ministerial conference, hosted by Cambodia in Phnom Penh.

The ambassador, who accused the Philippine and Vietnam of engaging in “dirty tricks,” did not show up, claiming illness.

China 'willing to work with Indonesia' on maritime row [-Oops! China prefers working with Indonesia rather than Cambodia, the ASEAN chair!!!]

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa (R) and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi (L) attend a joint press statement after their meeting at the foreign ministry office in Jakarta. Jiechi said his country was willing to work with Indonesia as an informal mediator to "maintain peace and stability" in the South China Sea, amid tensions with neighbouring nations over rival claims to the area

AFP – 08/12/2012

China's foreign minister said Friday his country was willing to work with Indonesia as an informal mediator to "maintain peace and stability" in the South China Sea, amid tensions with neighbouring nations over rival claims to the area.

"To maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and in the region, China is willing to work with Indonesia," Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi said in Jakarta.

He also said China was prepared to work "on the basis of consensus toward the eventual adoption of the code of conduct".

Cambodia orders envoy to leave the Philippines

08/10/2012
By Paterno Esmaquel II
Rappler.com (Philippine)

MANILA, Philippines – The Cambodian ambassador who accused the Philippines of playing "dirty politics" has been ordered to leave.

Cambodia has recalled its ambassador to the Philippines, Hos Sereythonh, the Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed Friday, August 10. "It is the prerogative of a sending state to assign or reassign its ambassador," DFA spokesperson Raul Hernandez explained in a text message.

Hernandez said Cambodia did not state the reason for Hos' recall.

The end of ASEAN centrality?

Speaking Freely is an Asia Times Online feature that allows guest writers to have their say.

Aug 8, 2012

By Amitav Acharya

SPEAKING FREELY

Asia Times Onlune

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) suffered a major loss of face, at least in the perceptions of some international media and academic experts, owing to its failure to issue its customary joint communique at its last ministerial meeting (ASEAN Ministerial Meeting, or the AMM) in Cambodia held during July 9-13.

The reason, as has been widely reported, was the refusal of Cambodia as the ASEAN chair to incorporate the positions of Philippines and Vietnam regarding their dispute with China over the South China Sea. As a result, the idea of ASEAN centrality, which assumes that ASEAN, rather than the great powers like China, Japan, the US or India, should be the building bloc and hub of developing a wider Asian or Asia-Pacific regional architecture, is facing a severe test. But there may be some silver linings and useful lessons which, if acted upon, can put ASEAN in a better position to move forward.

Much has been made of the infighting and putdowns inside the AMM deliberations, based on leaked accounts, that led to the impasse in Phnom Penh. Many observers have noted that this was the first time ASEAN had failed to issue a joint communique in its 45 years history.

But ASEAN's rise to regional and international prominence has never been smooth. The ASEAN process ground to a virtual halt in 1968-1969 over the Philippines' claim to Sabah. Moreover, the expansion of its membership and functions has its costs and consequences.

Stop throwing mud

August 7, 2012
Nguon Serath
Special to The Nation
Asia News Network

Even after Asean issued a six-point joint statement on the South China Sea two weeks ago, the war of words between Cambodia and the Philippines has intensified, raising concerns over the East Asia Summit scheduled for November.

Both sides were using the media to defend their positions at the annual meeting of Asean foreign ministers in Phnom Penh last month, which ended without a joint statement for the first time in 45 years.

The war of words between the two countries flared up after an article by Erlinda Basilio, under-secretary of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs. She defended the Philippines position at the annual meeting, which was to insist on mentioning its maritime territorial dispute with China.

Cambodia has launched a regional diplomatic response, with ambassadors in Thailand, the Philippines and even Japan writing letters to newspapers to defend its position as Asean chair.

ASEAN sec-gen issues statement of concern on Hand, Foot & Mouth Disease

Monday 30th of July 2012
Philippine Information Agency

MANILA, July 30 -- The secretary general of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has already issued a general statement of concern with the plight of Cambodia and Thailand in addressing Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD).

In a statement, ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan officially expressed that ASEAN Secretariat is still closely monitoring the health events in Cambodia and Thailand that have been related to the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD).

ASEAN said the secretary general has expressed concern regarding the social and health implications to the families in these countries whose children had either suffered or died due to the disease.

Don’t blame Cambodia for Asean bust-up

23/07/2012
Umesh Pandey
COMMENTARY
Bangkok Post

There is no bigger news in Asean these days than the collapse of efforts to produce a joint communique after the recent 45th ministerial meeting in Phnom Penh. Much of the blame has been laid at the feet of host Cambodia but that misses the larger point.

The failure to issue a communique was the first in the history of the 10-member organisation that prides itself on harmony and consensus. Some observers have begun to question what Cambodia was doing as the Asean chair this year.

What happened in Phnom Penh, in a nutshell, was that one country’s fear of offending China somehow managed to trump all the others’ desire to send Beijing a stern message about its behaviour in the South China Sea.

The fact is, people could have seen this bust-up coming. During the April summit, Cambodia nearly managed to singlehandedly derail efforts to discuss a “code of conduct” in the South China Sea.

Prime Minister Hun Sen spent nearly an hour trying to explain to journalists how important China was to the region, but the others prevailed and the code of conduct was deliberated. It was hoped at the time that the July meeting would build on that progress.

Meltdown for Asean over South China Sea [... so much for Cambodia being the ASEAN chair]

Marty takes to the skies

Indonesian diplomats scurry across region attempting to put the pieces back together

Wednesday, 18 July 2012

Asia Sentinel

The combination of aggressive Chinese jawboning and Filipino pride are combining to create a diplomatic crisis in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations that Indonesia is trying desperately to untangle.

The squabble has sent Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa, who previously called the Phnom Penh deadlock “perplexing” and “very, very disappointing,” flying on a diplomatic mission across the region to attempt to find support for a common position on the South China Sea issue.

Senior diplomats and political figures involved with Asean are growing increasingly concerned that the 10-member alliance has become polarized, with the Philippines and Vietnam squaring off against China and Cambodia essentially doing Beijing’s bidding. Political insiders in Kuala Lumpur say Malaysia has quietly tilted towards Beijing.

Beijing flaunts Cambodia success

Apparently referring to Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario’s tirades against China during the Asean meeting in Phnom Penh, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi pointed out that “Huangyan Island has always been part of the Chinese territory and is not a disputed island.” AP/Sakchai Lalit

Tuesday, July 17th, 2012
By Jerry E. Esplanada
Philippine Daily Inquirer

The Philippines should “face facts squarely and not make trouble” over Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, China said after successfully blocking Manila’s attempt last week to win regional support in its territorial dispute with Beijing in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).

A Chinese newspaper also chided the Philippines for “disgracing” itself with its “high-pitched verbal provocations” for which it had no matching “military or diplomatic influence.”

China is seeking to picture the Philippines as alone in its effort to get the country’s dispute with China over Panatag Shoal mentioned in a joint statement at the close of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) foreign ministers’ meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, last week.

But Malacañang insisted Monday that the Philippines had the support of the majority of the 10 Asean nations on the dispute. The bloc, however, failed to issue a joint communiqué because Cambodia, an ally of China and this year’s host, blocked the mention of the conflict in the statement.

Cambodia’s actions caused acrimony that led to the group’s failure to issue a joint statement, the first time in 45 years that the bloc’s annual meeting ended without such a statement.

Who created havoc at ASEAN FM meeting: China thru Cambodia or Vietnam & The Philippines?

លោក ពុយ គា ប្រធាន​អ្នកឆ្លើយឆ្លង​ព័ត៌មាន​របស់ទីភ្នាក់ងារ​ព័ត៌មានជប៉ុន Kyodo​ និង​ជាអ្នកតាមដាន​កិច្ចការអាស៊ាន​ជាច្រើនឆ្នាំមកហើយ​ (RFI)

លោក ​ពុយ គា​៖"វៀតណាម​និង​ហ្វីលីពីន​បាន​អុកឡុក​អង្គ​ប្រជុំ​ខ្លាំង"​

ដោយ តាន់ ហ្សង់-ហ្វ្រង់ស្វ័រ
Radio France Internationale

ភ្ញៀ​វ​ប្រចាំ​​សប្តាហ៍​​របស់​​វិទ្យុ​​បារាំង​​អន្តរជាតិ​​RFI​ ថ្ងៃ​​នេះ​ គឺ​​លោក​ ​​ពុយ គា ​ប្រធាន​​អ្នក​​ឆ្លើយ​ឆ្លង​​ព័ត៌មាន​​របស់​​ទីភ្នាក់ងារ​​ព័ត៌មាន​​ជប៉ុន​ ​​Kyodo​​ និង​​ជា​​អ្នក​​តាម​ដាន​​កិច្ចការ​​អាស៊ាន​​ជា​​ច្រើន​​ឆ្នាំ​​កន្លង​​មក​​ហើយ។​ឆ្លើយ​​តប​​នឹង​​សំណួរ​​របស់​​ហ្សង់-ហ្វ្រង់ស័រ​ តាន់​ លោក​​ពុយ គា​​បាន​​ពន្យល់​​​​នូវ​​មូលហេតុ​​ដែល​​​​បាន​​ធ្វើ​​ឱ្យ​​ខូច​​បរិយាកាស​​នៃ​​កិច្ច​ប្រជុំ​​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​​ការបរទេស​​អាស៊ាន​​នៅ​​ទីក្រុង​​ភ្នំពេញ​​ក្នុង​​សប្តាហ៍​​នេះ។

RFI’s weekly guest is Puy Kea, the Kyodo news correspondent, who followed the ASEAN meetings for the past several years. In response to Jean-François Tan, Puy Kea explained the reason behind the tense atmosphere during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers meeting in Phnom Penh last week.

http://archive.org/download/PuyKeaOnTheAseanFmMeetingVietnamAndThePhilippines/PuyKeaAseanFmMeetingRfiInterview.mp3

Sronors Srok Khmer - ស្រណោះស្រុកខ្មែរ

Dear Countrymen and Friends,

Attached please find the link to a new YouTube slide presentation, Sronors Srok Khmer (Nostalgia for the Khmer country) that I completed recently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBoti-OYKMY

I hope you enjoy the song Tropaeng Peay. The photos speak for themselves.

Sincerely,













Gaffar Peang-Meth

The UN apologized for the Cambodian flag flap

ហេតុអ្វី​ក៏​ទង់ជាតិ​កម្ពុជា​ត្រូវ​គេ​ដាក់​បញ្ច្រាស​នៅ​ការិយាល័យ UN?

(រាប់​ពី​ស្តាំ​មក​ឆ្វេង​ទី​៣)ទង់​ជាតិ​កម្ពុជា​​ត្រូវ​គេ​ដាក់​បញ្ច្រាស​នៅ​ការិយាល័យ​​អង្គ​ការ​សហ​ប្រជា​ជាតិ​។ រូប សុវណ្ណរិទ្ធ

05 July 2012
កែវ សុវណ្ណារិទ្ធិ
The Phnom Penh Post

គោរព​ជូន​លោក​ការីនិពន្ធ

ខ្ញុំ​បាន​បង្ខំ​ចិត្ត សរសេរ​លិខិត​នេះ ដោយ​សារ​តែ​មិន​អាច​អត់ទ្រាំ​បាន ក្នុង​នាម​ជា​សាក្សី​ម្នាក់ ដែល​ឃើញ​ទង់​ជាតិ​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា ដែល​រហូត​មក​ដល់​ត្រឹម​ម៉ោង​ដែល​ខ្ញុំ​កំពុង​សរសេរ​នេះ ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​ដាក់​កំពូល​ប្រា​សាទ ដាំ​ក្បាល​ចុះ​ក្រោម (បញ្ច្រាស)នៅ​ការិយាល័យ​កណ្តាល​អង្គការ​សហប្រជាជាតិ ក្នុង​បុរី​ញូយ៉ក សហ​រដ្ឋ​អាមេរិក។

មិន​ថា​មូលហេតុ​ដែល​នាំ​ឲ្យ​មាន​កំហុស​ពិធីការ​អចេតនា ​ឬ​ចេតនា​ ដោយសារ​តែ​ភាព​ព្រងើយ​កន្តើយ​ របស់​បុគ្គលិក អង្គការ​សហ​ប្រជាជាតិ ឬ​ការ​ធ្វេស​ប្រហែស​ ពី​ភាគី​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា​នោះ​ទេ ចំពោះ​ខ្ញុំ​ ព្រម​ទាំង​ពលរដ្ឋ​ខ្មែរ​ទាំង​អស់​ អំពើ​បែប​នេះ​ គឺ​ជា​ការរុក​កួន​ និង​ជា​រឿង​ដ៏​អាមាស់​ជា​ទី​បំផុត ខណៈ​ដែល​មាន​តែ​ទង់​ជាតិ​កម្ពុជា​តែ​មួយ​គត់​ ដែល​ត្រូវ​បាន​គេ​បង្ហូត​បញ្ច្រាស​ដូច្នេះ។

ដូច្នេះ​ហើយ យើង​មិន​អាច​ទទួល​យក និង​បណ្តែត​បណ្ដោយ​ឲ្យ​ធ្វើ​ដូច្នោះ​បាន​ទេ ព្រោះ​ទង់​ជាតិ​ គឺជា​បញ្ហា​ស្លាប់​រស់​ សម្រាប់​ជាតិ​សាសន៍​មួយ​ នៅ​លើ​ឆាក​អន្តរ​ជាតិ​ ព្រោះ​វា​បង្ហាញ​ពី​មុខ​មាត់​ កេរ​តំណែល​វប្បធម៌ អត្ត​សញ្ញាណ មោទនភាព ស្នេហា​ជាតិ ជាតិ​និយម​ ឯកភាព​ជាតិ​ និង​ព្រលឹង​ជាតិ​ជាដើម​។ល។​ ជា​ពិសេស ​ខណៈ​ដែល​កម្ពុជា​ កំពុង​ធ្វើ​ជា​ប្រធាន​សមាគម​អាស៊ាន​ផង​ទៀត​នោះ​។

Cambodia, Vietnam Add Interpol Database for Pilot Project

Wednesday, 04 July 2012
Sok Khemara, VOA Khmer | Washington, DC

“That means both countries took the Interpol equipment ahead of Asean’s other countries.”

Cambodia and Vietnam have become the first Southeast Asian countries to adopt a global database through Interpol to help track cross-border crimes, taking part in a pilot project that could mean more law enforcement communication across the region.

Interpol says its database currently contains over 30 million entries from more than 150 countries. Through the pilot project, two regional offices and 12 border control points in Cambodia and Vietnam are now connected to the database.

“That means both countries took the Interpol equipment ahead of Asean’s other countries,” said Sok Phal, deputy national police chief in charge of security.

Cambodian mission acknowledges flag flap at the UN headquarters

The following comment was posted by the Third Secretary of the Cambodian Permanent Mission to the UN acknowledging the flag flap at the UN headquarters.

More photos of the upside down flag at the UN headquarters in New York

Following the posting of photos of upside down Cambodian flag at the UN headquarters, some skeptical readers believe that they were fake photos made using "Photoshop". To these skeptics, here are more photos which were all taken on 02 July 2012.

Thank you Lok Sonnarith Keo for sharing these photos!

Cambodia flag flying upside down at the UN headquarte​rs

Upside down Cambodian flag at the UN headquarters in New York (Photo: Sovannarith Keo)

Upside down Cambodian flag at the UN headquarters in New York (Photo: Sovannarith Keo)

Dear Ki-Media,

I am compelled to write this letter as I cannot bear witnessing Cambodia’s flag has until this hour of my writing been flying upside down in complete reversed position at the headquarters of the United Nations here in New York City.

Regardless of whatever underlying reasons whether an unintentional protocol flaws as a result of UN staff’s negligence or the carelessness from the Cambodian government side, to me as well as to all Khmer citizens, such act is completely disturbing and embarrassing as Cambodia flag is the only one that has been flying so. It shall thus never be acceptable and allowed since flag can mean a matter of life and death for a nation on the international arena as it represents a nation’s face, prestige, identity, pride, patriotism, nationalism, unity and soul, etc., in particular when Cambodia is chairing the ASEAN Summit.

Does this not imply a disrespect of Cambodia and her people as a whole or is it a flag desecration? Or does it mean a declaration that Cambodia is a nation in distress or emergency situation that deserves immediate international help? Have the Cambodian Ambassador to the UN and his team ever noticed about this? Definitely, a proper explanation is required should the Cambodian government be serious about that.

Although Cambodia flag has been inscribed in the Constitution, it has been noted that not much attention has been paid to the proper use of Cambodia flag domestically or internationally while the country has yet to have any Flag Code or Flag Protocol. Unlike in the US or other nations, the country has never observed a single national Flag Day. In addition, the issue of flag of convenience remains a headache for the Cambodian government. Yet, not many actions have been seen actively taken.

It is time that our government should start thinking about this issue seriously if it really wants to raise Cambodia’s image internationally and does not want to repeat such embarrassing which could imply its weaknesses. While it is widely said that, “We weave the flag, we live under the flag and we also die under flag;” or “A patriot wraps himself around the flag to defend it; a scoundrel wraps it around himself to defend himself,” how far has these ideas been practiced and upheld by Cambodian government and its citizens?

Sincerely yours,

Sovannarith Keo

(New York)