Dear Focus Reader,

Leaders of Southeast Asian nations gathered at the ASEAN Summit this week to discuss pressing regional challenges, including the South China Sea, North Korea, Russia's war in Ukraine, and the ongoing civil war in Myanmar. The summit was hosted in Laos, and featured discussions among the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), along with China, the United States, and Russia.

A key focus of the summit was the growing tensions in the South China Sea, where China's expansive territorial claims clash with those of ASEAN members such as the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia. And frayed U.S.-China relations were a dominant undercurrent. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken voiced concerns about China's "increasingly dangerous and unlawful" activities in the region. He also emphasized Washington's commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation in this critical global trade route, warning that aggressive actions could lead to conflict.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang, while calling the South China Sea a "shared home," defended China's actions, claiming they are meant to protect its sovereign rights. He also urged non-regional forces, a veiled reference to the U.S., to avoid interfering in what he framed as a regional issue. ASEAN and China have been negotiating a code of conduct for the South China Sea for years, though progress has been slow due to disagreements on whether it should be legally binding.

Additionally, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed frustration over continued "harassment and intimidation" by Chinese forces, urging quicker progress on the code of conduct. ASEAN members and China have agreed to aim for a 2026 deadline to finalize the agreement.

Alongside the South China Sea, the summit addressed Myanmar's internal conflict and other regional security concerns, reinforcing ASEAN's role as a platform for dialogue between Southeast Asia and global powers.

Learn more about international relations by catching up on our latest Focus content, including topics on the EU, the future of the Quad, and China's role in the Myanmar conflict.