The tiff between the two allies overshadowed the opening of a summit of East and Southeast Asian nations in Laos. After Washington called off Tuesday’s bilateral meeting between Obama and Duterte in response, the Philippines issued two statements expressing regret. “President Duterte explained that the press reports that President Obama would ‘lecture’ him on extrajudicial killings led to his strong comments, which in turn elicited concern,” the Philippines government said in one statement. The 10-member ASEAN will meet leaders of other regional powers: China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Russia and the US. China claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually.

Source: Mint September 06, 2016 09:00 UTC