ASEAN split on how to deal with China in South China Sea row

The foreign ministers of the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gather Sunday for talks that are expected to focus on the July 12 decision by The Hague-based tribunal in a dispute between China and the Philippines.

Including a reference to the tribunal's ruling in the final communique "is a difficult issue that requires efforts of all parties," said Tran Viet Thai, deputy director of the Institute of Strategic Studies, a Vietnamese government think-tank.

In order to ease tensions, China, the Philippines and possibly other claimants must define what the ruling means for fishing, offshore oil and gas exploration, and military and other activities in the vast body of water that lies between the southern Chinese coast and the Philippine archipelago.

If they find common ground, the Philippines will prioritize the issue of access for Filipino fishermen to the disputed Scarborough Shoal.

Since 2012, the fishermen have been blocked by Chinese coast guard ships from the disputed shoal, located off the northwestern Philippines.

The upcoming meetings will also be notable for the presence of Myanmar Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi, who will be attending an ASEAN meeting for the first time in that role since her party took power earlier this year after decades of military rule.