Political analyst Sylwia Monika Gorska states ASEAN is unlikely to form a united front on South China Sea disputes due to its principles of consensus, sovereignty, and non-interference. She noted the Asean Maritime Leaders’ Declaration offers Manila an alternative path.
A decade after the Permanent Court of Arbitration's ruling on the South China Sea, the dispute remains unresolved. Despite Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr's assertion of peaceful dispute resolution, the ruling has become a point of contention, with maritime incidents and military deployments continuing. China's economic pragmatism has solidified its position as ASEAN's largest trading partner.
Beijing rejects boundary talks with Japan and Philippines, citing illegality and invalidity, amid escalating territorial disputes and joint naval patrols in contested waters.
