[Asia Round-up] ASEAN displays solidarity as region suffers

(Photo : Xinhua/NEWSis)

The Malaysia Airlines plane that has gone missing is testing relations among ASEAN friends. Vietnam responded quickly, deploying emergency officials to the area where the plane was last seen on radar. Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand had no nationals on board but are lending a helping hand to Malaysia. Two-thirds of those on board the flight were from China. Territorial disputes between Beijing and ASEAN countries have been going on for years. But, human lives are more important than land. The countries even in conflict over South China Sea islands should be able to lay their disputes to one side in favour of the effort to find the missing aircraft. It is regrettable that China’s state-run media played blame game by lashing out at Malaysia for a delayed initial response and weak airport security.
The Nation, Thailand