Cambodia doesn't want to destroy Asean, says Hun Sen
PHNOM PENH - Cambodia PM Hun Sen rejects accusations that Cambodia had something to do with Asean's failure to issue a joint statement following a meeting among foreign ministers in Kunming last week.
Prime Minister Hun Sen strongly rejected media reports accusing Cambodia as a factor in failing to reach a consensus on a joint statement at the Asean-China Foreign Ministers Meeting in Kunming, Yunnan, last week.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony at the Royal Administration School, Hun Sen reaffirmed Cambodia’s stance on the South China Sea and called a stop to accusations that Cambodia is blocking a resolution on the South China Sea dispute.
“Cambodia doesn’t want to destroy Asean. Cambodia has contributed a lot to for regional stability, especially on the South China Sea conflict," he said.
He added that Cambodia will not make any statement on the territorial disputes, particularly on the arbitration case filed by the Philippines in The Hague.
The Kunming meeting ended in chaos after Malaysia released a joint statement from Asean members voicing "serious concerns" at land reclamation and other activities. The strongly-worded statement did not name China but clearly referred to its extensive island-building.
The statement, however, was suddenly retracted.
