No deal as US, China face off on Spratlys’ woes By Michaela P. del Callar 11/20/2011

No deal as US, China face off on Spratlys’ woes

By Michaela P. del Callar 11/20/2011
BALI – US President Barack Obama and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao stood pat on their positions at the East Asia Summit (EAS) yesterday over the South China Sea territorial disputes and expectedly failed to forge any compromise on how to resolve the long-standing conflicts, leaving the unsettling issue hanging and dividing their smaller Southeast Asian counterparts.

While the summit agenda also included food security and disaster management, maritime security, topped by the territorial row involving China, the Philippines and four other Asian nations hijacked the limelight of the annual gathering, which Obama and Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev attended for the first time, making the forum just one of a few where the Chinese and American leaders could meet face-to-face with other heads of state to confront international concerns.

During the hour-long meeting, held at the picturesque Bali International Convention Center, Obama stated that the disputes must be peacefully settled in a multilateral forum in accordance with international law, echoing the same position long-held by the Philippines..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20111120hed5.html