China’s claims in the South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion in shipborne trade passes each year, are contested by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. The United States has said it would like to see more international participation in freedom-of-navigation operations in the South China Sea. NORTH KOREA ISSUETrump’s trip to Asia will likely be dominated by the North Korean nuclear threat. He will also visit South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines. Trump’s visit to China will reciprocate a trip to the United States made in April by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Source: Sunday Times October 11, 2017 08:03 UTC