The spectacular collapse of the conference of foreign ministers in Cambodia last week is a major setback for Asean. As the group's secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan said, it is a harsh lesson. Years ago, Mr Surin was one of the strongest voices in the region arguing against the outdated use of the so-called principle of non-interference to try to paper over tough decisions. Last week, Asean was so crippled by this outmoded rule of engagement that it was publicly humiliated and unable to engage.
It does not help that China is mostly to blame for the embarrassing end to the summit of Asean foreign ministers and a couple of dozen outside counterparts. Beijing's serial refusals to address the serious problems of territorial disputes in the South China Sea were well known before the Cambodia meetings. Asean's stated aim and its duty was to bring some order and stability to a problem that currently risks shooting wars between China and the Philippines, and between China and Vietnam. Failure was always possible, but the mortifying collapse of the talks is unacceptable.
The argument, which grew heated, was over the wording of a statement for the meeting. The Philippines and Vietnam insisted that the dispute be described, to include a confrontation between Manila and Beijing over a reef known as the Scarborough Shoal. Beijing angrily rejected its inclusion.
Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong told the media that Cambodia supports no side in the South China Sea dispute. But this is tendentious at best, anti-Asean at worst. By opposing the Philippines and Vietnam, his Asean colleagues, Hor Namhong precisely supported China. The Cambodian diplomat decided to support the Chinese side against the two Asean members.
The Cambodian foreign minister can at least argue that he was caught in the middle of the unpleasant, unnecessary dispute. China can make no such claim. Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi told the media before leaving for home that he wanted a ''win-win'' conclusion between his country and the United States. He did not say the same about Asean.
And now China has been caught with its own pants down. A Chinese navy frigate ran aground and is firmly stuck in waters claimed by the Philippines.
It gets worse. China agreed last month to withdraw all ships from the area. It also dispatched 20 ships to disputed waters around the Spratly Islands during the Cambodia meeting of foreign ministers _ obviously to defy Asean.
China claims two things: that Asean has no standing to negotiate on the South China Sea, and that, even if it did, there is nothing to negotiate. Neither claim is the action of a good neighbour. When US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton innocuously hoped that ''all nations of the region should work collaboratively and diplomatically to resolve disputes'', the state-controlled Chinese media mouthpieces attacked her as if she had threatened to use force.
The taciturn, even bellicose, Chinese words and actions last week are troubling. They are no less troubling, however, than the decidedly divided and helpless-looking Asean.
For the first time in 45 years, the group was unable even to issue a conference-ending statement. There must be serious introspection and adjustments, and quickly.
A group so divided against itself cannot expect a truly united economic union just three years from now.