Chinese tensions at ASEAN summit in Burma

Ashley Wells, Pat Macpherson, Wisdom Quarterly; Deutsche Welle (dw.de)

Southeast Asian leaders meet at first regional ASEAN summit hosted by Burma, overshadowed by growing tensions in the South China Sea (dw.de).

Burma's Pres. Thein Sein at Economic Forum

The ten-member ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) met on Sunday at a historic summit hosted for the first time by Burma.

The predominantly Buddhist country -- now called "Myanmar" by the ruling military dictatorship led by Gen. Than Shwe in their new fortified capital as Naypyidaw, which was moved from Rangoon -- is hosting the summit at its remote and secretive showpiece capital.

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Concerns over a stand-off in the South China Sea between China and Vietnam are likely to put the focus of discussion on longstanding maritime disputes in the region. Tensions arose this week after China moved a deep-water oil rig into territory near the Paracel Islands that are also claimed by Vietnam.

 

China determined in South China Sea

Chinese and Vietnamese ships have since been involved in several collisions, with the two communist countries trading accusations of responsibility for aggravating the situation. The spat has led to bitter anti-China demonstrations in several Vietnamese cities. More