(Bloomberg) -- The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, although divided on some maritime disputes with China, was restrained in official statements at a regional forum in Laos last week. Four of Asean's 10 members -- the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei -- make conflicting claims with China in the South China Sea, yet the group's foreign ministers took a muted stance in their first meeting after an international tribunal rejected China's main positions. One thing not in dispute is China's economic influence; it was the largest trading partner with seven Asean members last year and had surpluses with eight, including Vietnam, while only Malaysia and the Philippines held balances in their favor.
To contact Bloomberg News staff for this story: Lee Miller in Bangkok at lmiller@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rosalind Mathieson at rmathieson3@bloomberg.net, Jake Ulick, Nasreen Seria
With assistance from Lee Miller
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