Troops from across ASEAN recently gathered in the South China Sea to conduct their first joint military exercise. The show of solidarity is highly significant at a time when China is accelerating the militarization of the region and aggressively expanding its maritime activities there.
ASEAN has been unsuccessful in attempts to forge a unified stance on issues such as the crisis in Myanmar. Stronger security cooperation can enhance the bloc's cohesiveness and pave the way for the group to play a key role in regional stability.
