(CNN) China is winning the battle over the South China Sea, the resource-rich stretch of contested water where the country's been building artificial islands equipped with military-length airstrips. A clear example of this can be found in the Chairman's Statement released after the recent meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders in Manila. What's not clear is whether it's a sign of broader deal-making in Asia which may or may not relate to the current push by the US and China to rein in North Korea. If so, it may mark a return to "old politics." The ASEAN statementThis year's ASEAN statement watered down remarks on the South China SeaCould it be a sign of a broader deal in Asia as the US seeks to rein in North Korea?
The _ has been a "perfect storm" for the regional body, its own members divided and confronting Asia's most powerful state. China hopes that the recent _ meeting and its concluding Chairman's Statement marks a new direction forwards for regional recognition of its position.