A major threat to stability in Asia today is the competing claims of countries that border the South China Sea. It is an urgent issue that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, a regional group needs to discuss at its annual meetings this week. Yet China, which will attend the meetings as a guest, is insisting that the topic not be raised.

Cooperation on the South China Sea. (2015, August 7). Philippine Star, p. 15.