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Obama at Asean summit as sea row rumbles | Obama at Asean summit as sea row rumbles |
(about 1 hour later) | |
US President Barack Obama is attending a regional summit in Cambodia, with trade pacts and rumbling tensions over the South China Sea set to dominate. | US President Barack Obama is attending a regional summit in Cambodia, with trade pacts and rumbling tensions over the South China Sea set to dominate. |
The East Asian summit forms part of the regional Asean meeting. Chinese, Japanese and Australian leaders are also attending. | The East Asian summit forms part of the regional Asean meeting. Chinese, Japanese and Australian leaders are also attending. |
On Monday the US president discussed human rights with Cambodia's PM before attending a gala dinner. | On Monday the US president discussed human rights with Cambodia's PM before attending a gala dinner. |
His arrival came amid fractious debate on the maritime territorial rows. | His arrival came amid fractious debate on the maritime territorial rows. |
China claims a U-shaped swathe of the South China Sea, including areas also claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. | China claims a U-shaped swathe of the South China Sea, including areas also claimed by Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei. |
Tensions have been high with Manila and Hanoi in recent months amid stand-offs and minor clashes around shoals and islands disputed with China. | Tensions have been high with Manila and Hanoi in recent months amid stand-offs and minor clashes around shoals and islands disputed with China. |
The last Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) summit in July broke up acrimoniously, without a joint communique, with China facing accusations of using its clout to force host Cambodia to keep the territorial issue off the agenda. | The last Asean (Association of South East Asian Nations) summit in July broke up acrimoniously, without a joint communique, with China facing accusations of using its clout to force host Cambodia to keep the territorial issue off the agenda. |
The discord has continued at the latest summit. Cambodia said on Sunday that Asean nations had agreed not to "internationalise" the issue but negotiate on it as a bloc, something Beijing has been pushing for. | The discord has continued at the latest summit. Cambodia said on Sunday that Asean nations had agreed not to "internationalise" the issue but negotiate on it as a bloc, something Beijing has been pushing for. |
But on Monday, the Philippines - which has been boosting ties with the US - said no such accord had been reached and that it had "the inherent right to defend its national interests when deemed necessary". | But on Monday, the Philippines - which has been boosting ties with the US - said no such accord had been reached and that it had "the inherent right to defend its national interests when deemed necessary". |
On Tuesday, President Obama is expected to hold talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who has already warned that the summit should not focus on territorial disputes. | On Tuesday, President Obama is expected to hold talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, who has already warned that the summit should not focus on territorial disputes. |
Trade deals | |
Discussions at the summit are also expected to focus on at least three free trade pacts in the region. | |
China, Japan and South Korea are scheduled to launch trade talks on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the possibility of a free-trade zone, Japanese and South Korean officials say. | |
Asean countries and China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand are involved in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) dialogue that seeks to strengthen regional trade. | |
The US is leading the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations which currently involve four countries from Asean - Singapore, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam. | |
Mr Obama arrived in Cambodia from Burma, where he spent six hours meeting top leaders. | Mr Obama arrived in Cambodia from Burma, where he spent six hours meeting top leaders. |
The first visit to the country by a serving US president, it was seen as a response to reforms initiated by the government of President Thein Sein. | The first visit to the country by a serving US president, it was seen as a response to reforms initiated by the government of President Thein Sein. |