In a series of meetings involving the Association of Southeast Asian Nations earlier held this month in Kuala Lumpur, China's moves to strengthen its effective control of disputed territories in the South China Sea — including land reclamation — took center stage. But the discussions also exposed ASEAN's limitations and weakness as a group as it failed to adopt a strong, unified stance against China, apparently due to internal divisions among members. It will be important for countries concerned, including the United States and Japan, to work out strategies to reduce regional tensions by taking into account the positions of individual ASEAN countries.

The Philippines and Vietnam are the most vocal in their criticism of China's recent actions, while Thailand and Malaysia take a softer attitude toward Beijing, probably because China has offered infrastructure-related assistance to these countries — a move apparently intended to divide ASEAN members.

A joint statement by the ASEAN foreign ministers was released Aug. 6 — two days after their meeting. It stated that they "remained seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments in the area" — a reference to China's land reclamation activities around reefs and the construction of such facilities as radar towers and airstrips. On the basis of satellite images, the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies says that China is engaged in land reclamation on Fiery Cross Reef in the Spratly Islands with the aim of building a 3,000-meter airstrip. The islands are claimed by Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. The center also says that an airstrip of the same length is nearing completion on the Spratly's Subu Reef, which is close to an area where Filipinos are living. These airstrips will be long enough for the takeoff and landing of strategic bombers. However, the foreign ministers refrained from naming China in their communique.

Although the foreign ministers stated that the land reclamation activities "have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the South China Sea," they only "took note of the serious concerns expressed by some ministers" on the issue — an apparent reference to the foreign ministers of the Philippines and Vietnam.

An earlier draft of the statement expressed concern over the slow progress in the talks between ASEAN and China for a legally-binding code of conduct (COC) in the South China Sea to ease tensions in the area. But that part was deleted in the final statement, apparently out of consideration for China. The communique noted "progress in the consultations" on the COC and "reiterated the importance of the expeditious establishment of an effective COC."

In a meeting of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) between members of the group and other Asia-Pacific countries, the U.S. and Japan expressed a strong concern over China's actions in the South China Sea. China reacted strongly by saying that countries located outside the area should not intervene in the matters of the area. The ARF consists of the ASEAN countries and countries around Southeast Asia, including China, Japan, the U.S., North and South Korea, Australia, Canada and Russia.

The U.S. is expanding its military exercises near the South China Sea in response to China's growing assertiveness in the area, while Japan has carried out a joint drill with the Philippines. In pushing his security bills in the Diet deliberations, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasizes the threat from China in the East China Sea and South China Sea as a factor that necessitates the legislation. But both Tokyo and Washington need to realize that the ASEAN countries themselves are not monolithic in their dealings with China. Even countries engaged in territorial rows with China hesitate to have a head-on confrontation with Beijing due to their economic interests. Attempts by the U.S. or Japan to encircle China through closer ties with ASEAN might cause friction between them and the group, and possibly increase tensions in the area. Both countries should be aware of that risk and explore ways to defuse tensions in the area through dialogue with Beijing.