Inviting the US and Russia to participate in the East Asia Summit is aimed at counterbalancing China's clout

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has agreed to deepen engagement with Washington and Moscow by expanding the 16-nation East Asia Summit (EAS) to a "10 plus 8" dialogue, according to a joint declaration during the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting in Vietnam on July 20.

This surprising development has attracted widespread attention.