U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken recently attended the 19th East Asia Summit in Laos, where a proposed consensus statement was blocked by Russia and China. The main point of contention was the language used regarding the South China Sea, according to a U.S. official who spoke to Reuters. The draft statement, agreed upon by the 10 ASEAN countries, was presented to the 18-nation East Asia Summit for approval. However, Russia and China refused to proceed with the statement, citing concerns about turning it into a political statement.
The key issue that caused the disagreement was how the statement referred to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). While the U.S., Japan, Australia, South Korea, and India were in support of the draft statement, Russia and China objected to certain language that went beyond the 2023 EAS statement. China, in particular, has been asserting its claims over the South China Sea, causing tension with other claimants in the region.
Despite the failed consensus statement, Chinese Premier Li Qiang reiterated Beijing’s commitment to UNCLOS and the ongoing efforts to establish a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. He called on relevant countries outside the region to support these efforts and contribute to peace and stability in the region.
The unresolved issues surrounding the South China Sea continue to be a point of contention in the region, with ASEAN countries pushing for a Code of Conduct based on UNCLOS. The recent disagreement at the East Asia Summit highlights the challenges in reaching a consensus on this issue and the importance of international cooperation in maintaining peace and stability in the region.
