VIENTIANE: Beijing came under pressure at an Asian summit Wednesday over its “illegal” island building in the South China Sea, after the Philippines produced evidence it said showed fresh construction activity at a flashpoint shoal. The United States has reacted to that build-up by sailing warships close to the new islands, and sending warplanes over them, deeply angering China. US officials fear a Chinese military airfield at the shoal would enable Beijing to enforce a threatened air defense identification zone in the sea. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had said he did not want to anger China by highlighting the territorial row at the summit of regional leaders in Laos this week. Obama is also in Laos for the regional meetings, which will conclude on Thursday with an East Asia summit.

Source: Manila Times September 07, 2016 10:52 UTC