The Story:
U.S. President Donald Trump has just landed in the Philippines, shortly after offering to play mediator on the South China Sea issue that’s been a thorn in the region’s political side for a long time. Trump will speak today at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.
Important Because:
-
Five nations are contesting China’s broad claim to the South China Sea, a busy International waterway.
-
While in Vietnam earlier today, Trump said that he was ready to act as mediator between the several claimants to the disputed territorial waters.
-
Construction and militarization in the region by China has been vociferously opposed by Vietnam.
-
Nearly $3 trillion worth of goods pass through the artificial islands that China has built in the area.
The Details:
The Philippines is the last stop in Trump’s marathon tour of Asia.
The U.S. and the Philippines have been strategic partners since the Second World War.
President Duterte is notoriously anti-American, and relations between the two countries have been strained by Duterte’s call for better ties with China and Russia.
Trump is expected to try and improve relations during the summit, which could reassure members of his own team back home that he is committed to the region.
China’s view of the region is that it is a key point of strategic control, and the results of Trump’s efforts could have wide implications.
Incidentally, this leg was a last-minute addition by Trump after experts expressed concern that skipping the summit could hurt U.S. engagement levels in the APAC region.
Hey, thanks for visiting! We’re just a small team working extra-hard to help you cut to the chase on the most important news from around the world, so we’d appreciate your help spreading the word. Come join us on: Facebook and Twitter
