The Philippines said on Wednesday it was "gravely concerned" that Chinese boats were preparing to build structures at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, shattering an appearance of cordiality at an Asian summit in Laos. China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei claim parts or all of the South China Sea, making it a hot spot of regional tension. The United States has been a staunch ally of the Philippines and China has repeatedly blamed Washington for stirring up trouble in the South China Sea, through which more than $5 trillion of trade moves annually. The United States says it has no position on the territorial disputes but wants to ensure freedom of navigation. An ASEAN communique on Wednesday listed eight points related to the South China Sea, but made no mention of the arbitration ruling.

Source: Thanhnien News September 07, 2016 20:03 UTC