Cambodia trying to help [destroy Asean?]

When Umesh Pandey wrote a critical article about Cambodia, the madam ambassador was quite upset. However, when Pandey wrote an article defending Cambodia, the madam ambassador is still a bit upset. So, what does Pandey need to do to please her, stop writing about Cambodia?

Re: ''Don't blame Cambodia for Asean bust-up'' (Asia Focus, July 23).

It is very regretful that the 45th Asean Ministerial Meeting failed to issue a joint communique. However, Cambodia could not help it when two countries were determined to block it unless their demands were satisfied.

As the chair of Asean, Cambodia was trying to avoid escalating an already tense situation by opting to put aside the controversial point for future discussion and issue the Joint Communique, while maintaining a conducive atmosphere for the parties concerned to find a peaceful settlement.

It is very sad that Cambodia's accommodating stand on the South China Sea issue is seen as ''fear of offending China'' rather than a desire to avoid a head on collision between disputing parties, which would serve the interests of no one.

After all, the joint communique is not a legal document for settling the South China Sea issue and the parties have much more to do to resolve their disputes amicably.

The assertion that Cambodia ''nearly managed to singlehandedly derail efforts to discuss a code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea'' during the April summit is madness.

As chair of Asean in 2002, Cambodia worked very hard to get the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea signed by Asean members and China.

Presently, Cambodia has been advocating early conclusion of the COC and pushing Asean and China to work together on this.

As of now, two meetings at senior official level have been held to discuss key elements of the COC, yesterday in Hanoi and on July 8, 2012, in Phnom Penh.

The Asean foreign ministers' statement on Asean's Six-point Principles on the South China Sea, issued on July 20, 2012, mirrors the position Cambodia proposed during several restricted meetings, which was rejected.

Why the same position was rejected then and accepted latter is anybody's guess.

It is unjust and unfair to accuse Cambodia of ''defending China'' when it was trying to prevent a confrontational situation.

I do not think anyone can deny that engaging in constructive communication rather than having a direct confrontation is more beneficial for regional peace and stability.

YOU AY
Cambodian Ambassador to Thailand