WorldSouth China Sea dispute casts shadow over ASEAN meeting in Manila

The latest flashpoint in the South China Sea has led both China and the Philippines to summon each other’s ambassadors. A scuffle near the Second Thomas Shoal is also weighing on the ASEAN meeting in Manila. The Philippines, which chairs the bloc, is nevertheless sticking to a diplomatic line. It says continued cooperation remains a strategic necessity. The tensions have added pressure to a gathering focused on regional engagement.