ASEAN members are finding ways around bloc paralysis

Richard Heydarian is a senior lecturer at the Asian Center of the University of the Philippines and author of "The Indo-Pacific: Trump, China and the New Struggle for Global Mastery."

On a state visit to Vietnam three weeks ago, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed an agreement to expand bilateral maritime security cooperation. Although the pact did not directly mention China, the two governments signaled that they will work together more closely to protect shared interests in the hotly disputed South China Sea, especially with their coast guard forces.