ASEAN South China Sea

Malaysia’s year as ASEAN chair arrives at a pivotal moment to confront unprecedented challenges facing the bloc.

The bloc managed to adopt stronger language on the conflict in Myanmar, but remains adrift in the South China Sea.

During its upcoming chairmanship, the country faces a host of daunting challenges. But the year will bring opportunities, too.

A retired Philippine Supreme Court Justice Antonio says that the three nations should submit themselves to voluntary legal arbitration.

Things look promising for an expansion of ASEAN-China ties – but some formidable hurdles remain.

As China continues its militarization of the vital seaway, most Southeast Asian nations remain mired in their own problems.

The alternating diplomatic salvos highlight to degree to which the South China Sea has become a flashpoint of superpower tensions.

While joint activities between regional states are no doubt significant, they need to be kept in perspective relative to broader trends.

A recent interaction spotlighted an often-overlooked confidence-building mechanism between the two Southeast Asian states.

The visit of a Brunei Navy vessel to Danang marked yet another first for that aspect of the bilateral relationship.

Public discussion of the proposal belies the challenges inherent in adopting it as well as Malaysia’s own approach to the question.

A closer look at some of the key developments and initiatives discussed.

Advances at a recent meeting are much more modest than suggested and conceal the significant challenges that remain.

The fact that an old idea is finally set to become a reality reflects broader changes underway in the region.

ASEAN made gains on defense diplomacy, but challenges remain for 2018 and beyond.

Australia reaffirms that the South China Sea ruling is ‘final and binding’ on China in its new Foreign Policy White Paper.

What did the recent meeting of ASEAN defense ministers accomplish?

A closer look at what the regional defense picture looks like now and where it is headed.

Beijing’s displeasure is all too predictable and far from convincing.

The Duterte administration continues to tout opportunities of a pact despite the significant risks it would involve.

Reports indicate Beijing’s coercive efforts continue even as it plays up a cooling down period in the South China Sea.

The cooling down some are playing up masks underlying tensions and broader strategic realities.

An interaction by Hanoi and Manila this week is an important reminder about the significance of intra-ASEAN collaboration even as disputes continue to summer.

Manila and Hanoi resumed naval personnel interaction on a feature in the disputed waters.