海角大神

A Southeast Asian regional summit ended in acrimony on Friday over听China's assertive role in the strategic听South听China听Sea, failing to agree on a concluding joint statement for the first time in its 45-year history.

Divisions between the 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) follow a rise in incidents of naval brinkmanship involving Chinese vessels in the oil-rich waters that has sparked fears of a military clash.

罢丑别听Philippines听said it "deplores" ASEAN's failure to address the worsening row, and criticized听Cambodia 鈥� a close ally of听China 鈥� for its handling of the issue during the foreign ministers' meeting.

Without mentioning听China, Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario told a news conference in听Manila听that one "member state's" intrusions into Philippine territory were part of a "creeping imposition" of its claim over the entire听South听China Sea and were raising the risk of a conflict.

罢丑别听South听China听Sea has become听Asia's biggest potential military flashpoint as Beijing's sovereignty claim over a huge, looping area has set it against听Vietnam听and the听Philippines听as the three countries race to tap possibly huge oil reserves.

The stakes have risen as the US military shifts its attention and resources back to Asia, emboldening its long-time ally the听Philippines听and former foe听Vietnam听to take a bolder stance against听Beijing.

ASEAN's divisions are an ominous sign for a bloc that wants to create a regional economic community by 2015 that would bring down barriers in trade, labor and financial markets 鈥� partly to compete with听China听for investment.

China听is a member of the East Asian Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum which also held meetings in听Cambodia.

"The increasing assertion by this member state over the disputed and non-disputed areas poses a threat to the peace and stability in the听Asia-Pacific听region," del Rosario said.

"If left unchecked, the increasing tension that is being generated in the process could further escalate into physical hostilities which no one wants."

China听has been accused of using its heavy influence over summit chair听Cambodia and several other ASEAN members to block regional-level discussions on the issue and attempts to agree a binding maritime Code of Conduct to manage the dispute.

'Strong exception'

罢丑别听Philippines听said it took "strong exception" to听Cambodia's statement that the non-issuance of a communique was due to "bilateral conflict between some ASEAN member states and a neighbouring country."

It said it had only requested that the communique mention the recent standoff between Chinese and Philippine ships at the Scarborough Shoal, a horseshoe-shaped reef in waters that both countries claim.

Indonesia, the biggest economy in听Southeast Asia, played down the rift. "No doubt the听South听China听Sea at the moment is a difficult issue but I'm sure ASEAN will find ways and means to be able to address that problem," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa听told Reuters.

But the rising tensions were underlined on Friday when the听Chinese navy听said that one of its frigates had run aground on Half Moon Shoal, about 90 nautical miles (170 km) off the western Philippine island of听Palawan.

China听said it was conducting a rescue mission and the听Philippines听said it was sending "assets" to the area to investigate and provide assistance if needed.

"That's a very strategic location to strengthen their claim over the听Reed Bank, they are getting closer to our territory, putting one foot inside our fence," one military official told Reuters.

罢丑别听Philippines听scrambled aircraft and ships to the Reed Bank area last year after Chinese navy听ships threatened to ram a Philippine survey ship.

'Combat ready'

China听said last month it had begun "combat-ready" patrols in waters it said were under its control in the听South听China听Sea, after saying it "vehemently opposed" a Vietnamese law asserting sovereignty over the Paracel and听Spratly islands.

Philippine President听Benigno Aquino听told Reuters in an interview last week that he may ask the听United States听to deploy spy planes to monitor the disputed waters.

China, whose trade and investment ties with听Cambodia听have surged in recent years, has warned that "external forces" should not get involved in the dispute, which it says should only be discussed bilaterally.听Vietnam,听Malaysia,听Brunei听and听Taiwanalso lay claim to parts of the听South听China听Sea.

Vietnam's Foreign Minister听Pham Binh Minh听said he was "very disappointed" over the failure to issue a statement.

In a statement issued late on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister听Yang Jiechi repeated that there was "no dispute" about听China's sovereignty over Scarborough Shoal.

"China听hopes the Philippine side faces the facts squarely and stops creating trouble," he added.

罢丑别听United States听has stressed it is neutral in the long-running maritime dispute, despite offering to help boost the听Philippines' decrepit military forces. It says freedom of navigation is its main concern about a waterway that carries $5 trillion in trade 鈥� half the world's shipping tonnage.

(Stuart Grudgings听reported from Kuala Lumpur.; Additional reporting by Manuel Magato in听Manila, Ben Blanchard in听Beijing听and Olivia Rondonuwu in Jakarta; Editing by Jason Szep and Jeremy Laurence)