Rising tensions in the South China Sea look set to dominate a high-level annual diplomatic event between China and Southeast Asian countries, which opens in Singapore on Wednesday, mainland analysts say.
Just weeks before an international court ruling on territorial disputes over the sea, senior diplomats from China and 10 nations from the Association of Southeast Asian nations (Asean) are expected to engage in “heated discussions” during the two-day Sino-Asean talks.
This year’s event – marking the 25th anniversary of the start of the Sino-Asean dialogue – will be jointly chaired by China’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Liu Zhenmin, and the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Chee Wee Kiong.
