The Wall Street Journal writes, "President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe touted reinvigorated security ties and progress on a trade accord as the two leaders vowed to work together on issues ranging from maritime disputes to cyber threats... China was a prominent topic in the talks Tuesday, with both leaders expressing concern over Beijing's territorial ambitions in the Asia-Pacific region. But both said that strengthened U.S.-Japan trade and military ties weren't intended to provoke China. Mr. Obama said the renewal of U.S.-Japan ties were designed to combat maritime disputes in the Pacific and better address emerging problems such as cyber threats."
"After facing weeks of criticism about its reclamation work on disputed islands in the South China Sea, China on Wednesday turned the tables on Vietnam, the Philippines and others by accusing them of carrying out their own illegal building work. China claims 90 percent of the South China Sea, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas, with overlapping claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan. Recent satellite images show China has made rapid progress in building an airstrip suitable for military use in the Spratly Islands and may be planning another," writes Reuters.
According to The Diplomat,"As of Tuesday, Equatorial Guinea is the recipient of $2 billion in infrastructure funding from the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBS)... the new deal will see ICBC provide some funding directly to Equatorial Guinea's government. Other funds will be allocated to Chinese firms operating in the country, to support their investments. Africa as a whole is the 'strategic and development heart of 'going out,'' ICBC said in a statement. The Chinese government's 'going out' policy, rolled out in 2001, encourages Chinese companies to invest abroad as part of a strategy to increase global recognition of Chinese firms."
An opinion article from The Wall Street Journal writes, "No, America isn't opposed to the Chinese-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. In fact, if the AIIB ends up upholding high lending standards 'then we're all for it,' Mr. Obama said. Some of the U.S.'s closest allies might have hoped for this clarification to come a little earlier. American ties with the U.K. and South Korea, among others, have been strained by their decisions to join the bank. Explaining the situation earlier might also have saved Washington the lashing it took its from former officials as well as from a triumphant Chinese media, which portrayed the U.S. as a spoiler engaged in a spiteful effort to scuttle a good Chinese idea to build much needed infrastructure in Asia."