Australia’s continued engagement with ASEAN critical for stability in region, amid great power rivalry: PM Lee

CALLS FOR RESTRAINT IN SOUTH CHINA SEA

On Wednesday, Australia and ASEAN wrapped up the three-day summit marking 50 years of partnership. 
 
During the meeting, leaders called for restraint in the South China Sea and a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. 
 
This comes as some ASEAN members, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines, have overlapping claims with China over parts of the South China Sea. 
 
A joint statement called for a rules-based order in the Indo Pacific, urging nations to avoid unilateral actions that could endanger peace.
 
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said: “I am very concerned, and Australia is concerned about any unsafe and destabilising behaviour in the South China Sea. 
 
“It is dangerous and it creates risks of miscalculation, which can then lead to escalation. So we would call upon a number of nations emphasised in their statements, the foundation document is UNCLOS, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, that is something that should be the guide for all nations’ participation.”