President Barack Obama and leaders of Southeast Asian nations are wrapping up a two-day summit intended to show solidarity and US seriousness about staying engaged in a region where a rising China has rattled American allies.
Obama and leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were spending today discussing regional security issues.
They include counterterrorism and China's territorial claims to disputed waters of the South China Sea, moves that have sounded international alarms and heightened tensions with some association members.
The US maintains these disputes should be resolved peacefully according to international law, a stance Obama emphasised yesterday in welcoming leaders of ASEAN's 10-nation bloc: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia.
"Here at this summit, we can advance our shared vision of a regional order where international rules and norms, including freedom of navigation, are upheld and where disputes are resolved through peaceful, legal means," Obama said, opening the first ASEAN-only summit held in the US. The symbolism of the meeting is likely to be more significant than any outcome.
Le Luong Minh, a Vietnamese politician and chairman of the association, said the US is one of ASEAN's "important dialogue partners." He called the summit an "excellent opportunity to exchange our views" on important issues.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said ASEAN leaders hope Obama's attention and priority toward the Southeast Asian grouping will be continued and sustained by future US presidents, Malaysia's Bernama news agency reported.
He said 10 ASEAN leaders acknowledged that the grouping's relationship with the US was as important as its relationship with China.
China says it has a historical right to virtually all of the South China Sea and has built seven artificial islands, including with airstrips, to assert its sovereignty.
Taiwan and ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines also claim land features in these potentially resource-rich international shipping lanes.
Though not a claimant, the US has spoken out against China's conduct and has angered Beijing by sailing Navy ships near some of the artificial islands in a show of support for its allies.
The US has argued for the maritime rights issue to be resolved peacefully and is looking for ASEAN to take a unified stance and call for the disputes to be resolved based on international law.
