Shangri-La Dialogue 2019: ASEAN mute on international rule breakers
In sharp contrast to China’s bellicose tone at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the voices of most ASEAN and others’ defence ministers were particularly muted when it came to criticising any country that does not play according to the rules-based order.
One particular country is consistently breaking international rules, and that is China. However, it seems that most defence ministers preferred to skirt around the issue, or were ordered not to inflame the situation by their respective governments.
There was also a sense that ASEAN members were attempting to avoid the appearance of taking sides between China and the
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