LEADERS of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) excluded the landmark arbitral ruling against Beijing in their draft summit statement on Saturday, but made a united stand against China’s militarization in the disputed West Philippine Sea (South China Sea).
FAMILY PHOTO Southeast Asian leaders pose for a ‘family photo’ outside the Coconut Palace in Manila. From left: Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak, Myanmar’s State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo and Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith. PHOTO BY ROGER RAÑADA