China Vows to Step Up Military Ties With Neighbors (Update1) – Allen T. Cheng

Is China going to lead the cooperation with Asean since it plays a solo role after dropping India and Australia out of the community? From Bloomberg:

China promised to resolve all disputes over claims for oil and gas in the South China Sea with its Southeast Asian neighbors and to strengthen military ties as part of an effort to accelerate the formation of an economic East Asian Community.

China’s commitment, made by Premier Wen Jiabao today at a summit of Asian nations being held in Singapore, is a sign that the world’s fastest growing major economy is willing to spearhead the building of East Asia into a trading bloc. [Full Text]

Read related Bloomberg’s article: Asian Leaders Drop India, Australia From Regional `Community’ , which says, “China, Japan and South Korea agreed to work with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations to open up regional trade, dropping a plan to include India, Australia and New Zealand.”