Disagreement at the East Asia Summit: Tensions over the South China Sea

Russia and China have expressed their rejection of a consensus paper on the East Asia Summit proposed by Southeast Asian countries. The main reason for the blockade was the controversial wording regarding the South China Sea. A U.S. official stated that China and Russia would not support the adoption of such a statement, while the United States, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and India expressed their approval. The consensus paper, formulated by the ten member states of ASEAN, was presented to the 18-nation East Asia Summit in Laos on Thursday evening. Despite discussions, the Chinese and Russian representatives could not reach an agreement. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the draft was unbalanced and highly politicized. China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea, is in ongoing conflict with several ASEAN states, including the Philippines. Beijing does not recognize a 2016 arbitral tribunal ruling that declared its claims invalid. The draft statement contained additional clauses compared to the 2023 declaration. These provided that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) serves as the legal framework for the use of the seas and also referred to challenges in areas such as the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and other regions. Chinese Premier Li Qiang emphasized at the summit China's commitment to UNCLOS and the development of a code of conduct, underscoring China's historical and legal claims. He called on external countries to support the region's efforts and contribute to stability in the South China Sea.