REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - For the first time ever in 45 year history, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) fails to issue joint communique in ASEAN summit. China insisted that the Summit was not the right place to talk about the South China Sea dispute. 

"People have different interests. It is not fair to be discouraged," the US Ambassador to ASEAN, David Carden, commented the issue.

As the one of the nine US ambassadors who attended the Summit, Carden said that ASEAN conversational issue was deepening. However, he emphasized that US did not take side in the dispute although Philippines was their country coordinator for the last three years. 

"As a stakeholder we are supporting ASEAN. We can make benefit to everyone," he said.

Carden also appreciated Indonesian role, represented by Indonesia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Marty Natalegawa, towards the dispute. "Indonesian role in the summit was well demonstrated," he said.

He added that US expected the countries in dispute to bring forward the public diplomacy and lessen the tension. "The ultimate goal is peace," he said firmly.

Apart from the failing joint communique, the Summit talks on many different subjects. "We are talking about joint project which is relevant to the development of the region," he said.

Six countries –China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei- claim some part or a whole territory of South China Sea. The claim is considered as one of the most potentially dangerous conflict in the world.

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