China's declaration of its 'core interest' in the South China Sea is forcing ASEAN to re-evaluate its tactics in negotiating with Beijing.
ASEAN wants to bring China back to the terms of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, signed in 2002. But if China continues to assert itself in the South China Sea, ASEAN has the option of seeking to internationalise the dispute. Internationalisation would be a major change of approach by the ten members of ASEAN, but it's an option being debated in Southeast Asia, according to Dr Rizal Sukma, executive director of Jakarta’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
Dr Sukma is in Canberra for the annual conference of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and he spoke with me about the ASEAN debate...
