[h=3]By ENDA CURRAN And CHUN HAN WONG[/h]PHNOM PENH—Fresh tensions have arisen among Southeast Asian leaders after the Philippines rejected assertions by China and Cambodia that the grouping had agreed not to internationalize the territorial dispute over the South China Sea.
"This was not the understanding of both the Philippines and at least one other country," Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario told reporters. "Various views were expressed on Association of Southeast Asian Nations unity, which were translated by the Chair [Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen] into an Asean consensus."
The Philippines "has the inherent right to defend its national interest when deemed necessary," Mr. Rosario added.
This comes after a Chinese government spokesman also said Monday that Asean had reached an agreement to not internationalize the dispute and to deal directly as a bloc with Beijing to resolve differences.
In a joint statement after meeting U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday, Asean leaders said they agreed with U.S. worries over sea lane access and the need to implement a regional code of conduct for the South China Sea, along with deepening their maritime cooperation. China wasn't a participant in that meeting.
[h=3]Photos: Obama Visits Southeast Asia[/h]
EPAU.S. President Barack Obama takes his first steps on Myanmar soil at Yangon International Airport.
[h=3]Timeline: Myanmar's Political History[/h]
The developments are a reminder that the waters remain a potential flash point and reflect moves by both China and the U.S. to assert their influence in the region.
Expectations are now low for progress on a solution to the dispute over islands in the sea, which is crossed by more than half the world's total trade and is thought to contain vast energy and mineral reserves. The islands in question are broadly claimed by China and in part by such nations as Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Talks so far during the meetings of the 10-member Asean bloc and other regional powers have indicated Cambodia is again aligning with China on the dispute, while the Philippines has long regarded the U.S. as its ally. A meeting of foreign ministers in July broke up without issuing a communiqué for the first time in Asean's history, an outcome that analysts blamed on host Cambodia being pressured by China.
Beijing has previously opposed efforts to settle disagreements at multilateral forums, saying it prefers to handle them on a bilateral basis.
China and Asean have agreed on a commemorative declaration to mark a decade-old framework aimed at curbing tensions on the seas. "The fact that they have agreed a commemorative statement is a positive development," an official familiar with the matter said. "But the ultimate aim is for the code of conduct," they added.
It is unclear which other country the Philippines was referring to, but Vietnam has in the past supported Manila on the dispute. A Vietnamese official wasn't immediately available to comment.
The tensions come as Mr. Obama attends a wider gathering of leaders in Cambodia at the East Asia Summit. Mr. Obama is holding a series of bilateral meetings Tuesday before a briefing later where he may discuss the South China Sea concerns. The U.S. has long urged a solution and stressed the need for a regional framework for dialogue to settle disputes peacefully.
"This was not the understanding of both the Philippines and at least one other country," Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert F. Del Rosario told reporters. "Various views were expressed on Association of Southeast Asian Nations unity, which were translated by the Chair [Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen] into an Asean consensus."
The Philippines "has the inherent right to defend its national interest when deemed necessary," Mr. Rosario added.
This comes after a Chinese government spokesman also said Monday that Asean had reached an agreement to not internationalize the dispute and to deal directly as a bloc with Beijing to resolve differences.
In a joint statement after meeting U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday, Asean leaders said they agreed with U.S. worries over sea lane access and the need to implement a regional code of conduct for the South China Sea, along with deepening their maritime cooperation. China wasn't a participant in that meeting.
[h=3]Photos: Obama Visits Southeast Asia[/h]
EPAU.S. President Barack Obama takes his first steps on Myanmar soil at Yangon International Airport.
[h=3]Timeline: Myanmar's Political History[/h]
The developments are a reminder that the waters remain a potential flash point and reflect moves by both China and the U.S. to assert their influence in the region.
Expectations are now low for progress on a solution to the dispute over islands in the sea, which is crossed by more than half the world's total trade and is thought to contain vast energy and mineral reserves. The islands in question are broadly claimed by China and in part by such nations as Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Talks so far during the meetings of the 10-member Asean bloc and other regional powers have indicated Cambodia is again aligning with China on the dispute, while the Philippines has long regarded the U.S. as its ally. A meeting of foreign ministers in July broke up without issuing a communiqué for the first time in Asean's history, an outcome that analysts blamed on host Cambodia being pressured by China.
Beijing has previously opposed efforts to settle disagreements at multilateral forums, saying it prefers to handle them on a bilateral basis.
China and Asean have agreed on a commemorative declaration to mark a decade-old framework aimed at curbing tensions on the seas. "The fact that they have agreed a commemorative statement is a positive development," an official familiar with the matter said. "But the ultimate aim is for the code of conduct," they added.
It is unclear which other country the Philippines was referring to, but Vietnam has in the past supported Manila on the dispute. A Vietnamese official wasn't immediately available to comment.
The tensions come as Mr. Obama attends a wider gathering of leaders in Cambodia at the East Asia Summit. Mr. Obama is holding a series of bilateral meetings Tuesday before a briefing later where he may discuss the South China Sea concerns. The U.S. has long urged a solution and stressed the need for a regional framework for dialogue to settle disputes peacefully.