Issues and Attendees of the Southeast Asia Summit

ATTENDEES

– ASEAN countries — Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Burma, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

– Invited countries — the United States, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and South Korea.

HOT TOPICS

The South China Sea Dispute

– Claimed in its entirety by China and in part by several ASEAN members.

– ASEAN members have accused China of intimidating their vessels in the sea.

– China has agreed to help draft a code of conduct.

Burma

– Burma takes over ASEAN chairmanship in 2014.

– Rights groups, some governments first wanted more reform in Burma.

ASEAN Community

– Member countries pushing for an EU-style community by 2015.

– Have not agreed on the pace for creating a common market or currency.