And at the same time it provided foreign ministers in Manila - those from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their dialogue partners from around the world - an excuse to speak out if they desired.

CNN: Waiting To Move Ahead

The EAS was launched in 2005 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bringing together leaders of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and six other Asia-Pacific region countries.

WHITEHOUSE: Fact Sheet: East Asia Summit Outcomes