U.S.-ASEAN Summit: Countering China's Expanding Maritime Presence

On Feb. 15-16, U.S. President Barack Obama is hosting regional leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at a special summit at Sunnylands, Calif. The summit comes amid rising tension regarding China's push into the South China Sea, a dispute where the United States and several ASEAN member states share an interest. It also comes on the heels of the passing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community, both of which Washington hopes will further unlock Southeast Asian trade and limit Chinese economic sway in the region. ...