UPDATE 1-Australia and ASEAN call for restraint in South China Sea, ceasefire in Gaza

Australia and Southeast Asian nations ended a three day summit on Wednesday calling for restraint in the contested South China Sea and a lasting ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Australia hosted a summit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Melbourne to mark the 50th anniversary of its ties to the bloc, even as differences remained across the 10 members on China's plans to extend diplomatic and military presence in the region. A joint statement by Australia and ASEAN called for "rules-based" order in the Indo Pacific, as Beijing looks to increase its presence in the South China Sea.