THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Vientiane, Laos, from October 9 to 11, said it all. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. wanted other Asean leaders to get tough on Beijing over increasingly harsh confrontations in the South China Sea. No dice.

One Philippine paper headlined: 'Marcos challenges China's premier over West Philippine Sea at Asean meet.' In the grouping's dialogue with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, President Marcos reportedly said that Asean and China could not dwell on good economic ties amid geopolitical strains.