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U.S. NEWSWednesday 17 February
Obama, Southeast Asian
leaders seek resolutions
for its maritime disputes
President Barack Obama, ment after two days of talks
center, walks with leaders avoided direct reference
of ASEAN, the 10-nation As- to China, reflecting the
sociation of Southeast Asian careful path that ASEAN
Nations, for the official photo, members tread in their di-
Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016 at the plomacy with the world
Annenberg Retreat at Sunnyl- powers.
ands in Rancho Mirage, Calif. “Any disputes between
claimants must be resolved
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez peacefully through legal
Monsivais) means such as the upcom-
ing arbitration ruling under
D. SUPERVILLE the U.N. Convention of the
M. PENNINGTON Law of the Seas, which
Associated Press the parties are obligated
RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. to respect and abide by,”
(AP) — President Barack Obama said.
Obama and the leaders of China says it has a historical
Southeast Asia called Tues- right to virtually all of the
day for peaceful resolution South China Sea and has
of the region’s maritime dis- built seven artificial islands,
putes as they concluded a some with airstrips, to assert
summit in California. its sovereignty. Taiwan and
Obama told a news confer- ASEAN members Brunei,
ence that disputes must be Malaysia, Vietnam and the
resolved by legal means, Philippines also claim land
including a case brought features in these potential-
by the Philippines chal- ly resource-rich waters, an
lenging China’s sweeping important thoroughfare for
claims over most of the international shipping.
South China Sea. Though not a claimant,
China has refused to take the U.S. has spoken out
part in the proceedings, against China’s conduct
but Obama said parties to and has angered Beijing by
the U.N. law of the seas are sailingU.S. Navy ships near
obligated to respect the some of the artificial islands
ruling, expected later this to demonstrate freedom to
year. sail there despite China’s
Obama has been hosting territorial claims.
10 leaders of the Associa- Obama said the U.S. will
tion of Southeast Asian Na- continue to fly, sail and
tions, or ASEAN, in the U.S. operate wherever interna-
for the first time. That sends tional law allows, and it will
a subtle message to China support the right of other
that the U.S. remains an im- countries to do the same.q
portant force in the region.
But the leaders’ joint state-
