Australia and its Asean neighbours vowed to boost defence ties while stressing the importance of non-militarization in the disputed South China Sea Sunday at a summit where the “complex” Rohingya crisis took centre stage. “Aung San Suu Kyi addressed the matter comprehensively, at some considerable length herself,” he said. The leaders added they wanted to see an “early conclusion of an effective code of conduct in the South China Sea.”“We will uphold our commitment to the rules-based order and international law in the region, including the South China Sea,” stressed Turnbull. Australia, the full Asean bloc, as well as China and India are among countries still negotiating that deal. Asean groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, with Australia, a dialogue partner since 1974.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 18, 2018 08:26 UTC