Russia and China have caused a roadblock in the proposed consensus statement for the East Asia Summit, which was drafted by Southeast Asian countries. The main point of contention lies in the language regarding the disputed South China Sea, according to a U.S. official statement on Saturday.
During the East Asia Summit meeting in Laos, a consensus statement created by the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations was presented. However, it was met with opposition from Russia and China, leading to a standstill in negotiations.
“ASEAN put forth the final draft and made it clear that it was a take-it-or-leave-it situation,” the official revealed on the condition of anonymity.
Summary: Russia and China have halted the progress of a proposed consensus statement for the East Asia Summit due to disagreements over language regarding the South China Sea. Despite efforts by Southeast Asian countries, the impasse continues as negotiations are at a standstill.
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