Southeast Asian diplomats meet with China as friction mounts over Beijing’s sweeping maritime claims

Top diplomats from Southeast Asia met Friday morning in Vientiane with China’s Foreign Minister for talks that come as friction continues to escalate over Beijing’s growing effort to press its sweeping maritime claims in the South China Sea. Several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nation have disputes with China, which has led to direct confrontations that many worry could lead to broader conflict. “One wrong step in the South China Sea will turn a small fire into a terrible firestorm,” said Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi ahead of the talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.Read More