An aerial view of Southwest Cay, also known as Pugad Island, controlled by Vietnam and part of the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea, April 21, 2017. REUTERS/Francis Malasig/Pool
MANILA (Reuters) - Southeast Asian nations would adopt a softer than usual tone about South China Sea disputes at a leaders' summit on Saturday in Manila, and exclude references to militarisation or island-building, according to a draft of the chairman's statement.
Although some Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders will express "serious concern" over the "escalation of activities" in the disputed sea, ASEAN will drop references, or even allusions, to China's construction of artificial islands and the military hardware it has placed on them, according excerpts of the draft seen by Reuters.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
