The Association of Southeast Asian Nations should take punitive action against member-nation Cambodia for claiming that Asean had agreed not to “internationalize” the disputes involving China and the Philippines, among others.

It was highly unbecoming for Cambodia to make such a claim since it had no basis in fact. In short, it was a flat out lie. Diplomatic etiquette may not allow a spade to be called a spade, but there can be no other way to describe the fast one that Cambodia’s officials tried to pull during the Asean leaders meeting held in their country over the weekend.

What made the matter worse was that Cambodia was the host nation.

President Benigno Aquino 3rd was right to speak up when he did, which was immediately after Cambodia made the audacious claim. To remain silent would have been tantamount to agreeing with a policy that runs counter to what the Philippines has long held: The maritime dispute between China and the Philippines involving the West Philippine Sea should be taken to the global stage. China may insist that the issues be settled via bilateral talks, but this is unfair to the Philippines, which will be negotiating from a weaker position.

China is both an economic and military superpower, while the Philippines is nothing more than a rising tiger economy with no pretensions of being a military power. Still, the country cannot take any insult sitting down. And insult the Philippines is what Cambodia did, which we suspect was at the behest of China.

Also known as Kampuchea, this nation did not even qualify for membership in Asean when the organization was born. On the other hand, the Republic of the Philippines is a founding member.

And lest anyone forget, the Kingdom of Cambodia is the birthplace of the Khmer Rouge, which foisted on the country the most brutal regime in modern times. This is the same country that was the home of the “killing fields.” It is presently led by a dictator who has been in power for 25 years.

It would therefore seem that Cambodia’s diplomats and its leader do not quite appreciate the brotherhood that the Asean strives to become.

Cambodia should first decide whether it is a puppet of China, or an independent state like the other Asean nations. If it cannot break free from its too-close ties to China, it may as well leave the Asean and act as a province of the Asian superpower instead.

It should be noted that the Philippines is not the only country with which China has long festering disputes. Other Asean nations like Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei also have similar issues as our country, as well as non-Asean nations like Japan. Even China’s “province” Taiwan lays claim to some territory in the sea.

Sadly, the disputes would not have worsened were it not for China flexing its military muscle by sending warships to the contested waters earlier this year.
 
The last word
It is worth mentioning without gloating that the Philippines has had the last say on the irresponsible Cambodian claim of not internationalizing the territorial rows within the region.

At the end of the leaders’ conference, the Asean member-countries called for the formal drafting of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the West Philippine Sea (AKA South China Sea) to resolve the dispute.

The Philippines has always sought peaceful and friendly relations with all its neighbors, and until the Chinese incursions into its waters occurred this year, the country succeeded. There is no question that diplomatic relations with Cambodia should not be strained to the breaking point because it committed a serious lapse in judgment at an international gathering which it hosted this week.

Still, the association cannot and should not let Cambodia’s attempt to take the cudgels for China during the conference pass. If it does, it sets the stage for more of the same every time the leaders or foreign ministers of Asean meet.

China and Cambodia should be reminded that Asean is a strong organization which has flourished because all the member-nations respect each other as equals.