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South China Sea disputes rest with China

Charles Santiago’s piece on ‘High drama in Vientiane leaves Asean a weakened bloc’ is an interesting read. While the analyses are sound, I find that the views expressed are too harsh on Asean nations.

We generally agree that a community of nations must play by international rules and adhere to arbitration. However, in this particular case, the inability to adhere to rules and arbitration is not due to the fault of Asean nations per se.

As pointed out, some Asean countries are economically and financially dependent on China. Some probably have lots of skeletons to hide and they need China’s ‘subtle goodwill’. And of course all of them are militarily weak when compared with China.

What could a strong joint communiqué reprimanding or condemning China’s adventure in the South China Sea do to that country? I think all of us must accept the fact that China today is a superpower, militarily and economically. No nation really can stop China now. Hence, an abrasive communiqué would probably not able to do much to correct the situation in the South China Sea.

What Asean and in fact the world need is to convince and persuade China to look at herself as a responsible superpower. The choice rests with China - whether she wants to be a benevolent or malevolent power.

A benevolent power will not bulldoze and bully others. On the contrary, she will exercise her power judicially and is willing to subject herself to international rules and arbitration. I am sure the world does not need rogue rules.

I do not know all the intricacies of South China Sea. However, when there are overlapping claims and disputes, surely there are some justifications embedded. A benevolent superpower must respect all nations - big and small, strong and weak. A benevolent superpower must play by the rule and be willing to subject herself to international norms and arbitration.

It has been more than 70 years since the end of WW2, I think many nations have gradually forgotten why we formed the United Nations and many of its agencies to resolve disputes among nations.

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