MANILA, Philippines (AP) – President Donald Trump has offered to mediate in South China Sea disputes and his Chinese counterpart played down concerns over Beijing’s military buildup and the prospects of war in the contested waters.
Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping spoke separately about the territorial rifts ahead of an annual summit of Southeast Asian nations and the U.S., China and other global players in Manila, where the disputes are high on the agenda.
Trump says “I’m a very good mediator,” but his offer faces many obstacles: for one, China doesn’t want the U.S. meddling in the disputes and has balked at the U.S. Navy’s incursions into what Beijing considers its territorial waters in the South China Sea.
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang wave their hands after a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. (Kham/Pool Photo via AP)
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says Xi assured him of China’s peaceful intentions.
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a news conference at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. (Kham/Pool Photo via AP)
Girls wave Vietnamese and American flags as President Donald Trump prepares to board Air Force One at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, to travel to Manila, Philippines. Trump is on a five country trip through Asia traveling to Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and the Philippines. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
U.S. President Donald Trump attends a news conference at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, Vietnam Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017. (Kham/Pool Photo via AP)
Protesters burn mock U.S. flags during a rally near the venue of ASEAN summit and meetings in Manila, Philippines on Sunday Nov. 12, 2017. The group is protesting against the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently on a trip to Asia with the Philippines as his last stop for the ASEAN leaders’ summit and related summits between the regional grouping and its Dialogue Partners. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Protesters burn a U.S. flag during a rally near the venue of ASEAN summit and meetings in Manila, Philippines on Sunday Nov. 12, 2017. The group is protesting against the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently on a trip to Asia with the Philippines as his last stop for the ASEAN leaders’ summit and related summits between the regional grouping and its Dialogue Partners. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
A mock U.S. flag is reflected on the eyeglasses of a protester during a rally near the venue of ASEAN summit and meetings in Manila, Philippines on Sunday Nov. 12, 2017. The group is protesting against the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently on a trip to Asia with the Philippines as his last stop for the ASEAN leaders’ summit and related summits between the regional grouping and its Dialogue Partners. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Protesters walk on a giant mock U.S. flag during a rally near the venue of ASEAN summit and meetings in Manila, Philippines on Sunday Nov. 12, 2017. The group is protesting against the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently on a trip to Asia with the Philippines as his last stop for the ASEAN leaders’ summit and related summits between the regional grouping and its Dialogue Partners. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
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