Deepening divisions among Southeast Asian states reflect China’s growing leverage in the region as it takes a tougher line toward the U.S. over Taiwan and other territorial claims, according to academics and former senior diplomats.
In recent weeks, Cambodia effectively vetoed Indonesia’s proposal for Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to stage its first-ever joint exercises in the contested South China Sea. Meanwhile, Thailand broke ranks with ASEAN to engage the Beijing-backed junta in Myanmar.
“Both Cambodia’s resistance to an ASEAN maritime exercise and Thailand’s hosting of a meeting to discuss how ASEAN can re-engage the Myanmar junta undermined ASEAN unity and goals,” said Scot Marciel, a former U.S. ambassador to ASEAN, Indonesia, and Myanmar and author of Imperfect Partners.
Cambodia: China’s ally in the South China Sea
The South China Sea is…
