Brunei snubs Asean meet to forge one stand on China

Four members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) with claims in the South China Sea failed to take a united stand on China’s growing aggressiveness after Brunei opted out of a recently held meeting in Manila.

Brunei was a no-show in the 1st Asean Claimants Working Group Meeting held at Pan Pacific Hotel in Manila on February 18, and is expected to skip the second round in Malaysia on March 25, diplomatic sources privy to the talks said.