ASEAN struggles to keep unity amid China's growing economic clout

China's growing economic clout has made it tougher for ASEAN countries to maintain a united front and juggle between major outside powers in their regional power play.Beijing lobbied for its views on the South China Sea to be reflected at a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila at the end of last month even though it involved only ASEAN leaders.ASEAN countries have often been split on how much support to give to China's views."Basically, Cambodia, the Philippines and Laos will not want to fight Chinese preference," an ASEAN diplomat who did not want to be named said…READ FULL ARTICLE