When the Association of Southeast Asian Nations failed last month to agree a joint position on the South China Sea, the disputed waters contested by several of its members, many observers lamented the organisation’s weakness.
But in Beijing, the outcome was quietly celebrated as a success for its new foreign policy strategy of using key allies to push through China’s interests in the region.
Cambodia, which this year chairs the 10-nation Asean group, blocked an attempt by the Philippines and Vietnam to include a reference in the summit communiqué to a recent stand-off with China in the South China Sea.
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