Amid Pandemic, SE Asian Nations Warn of ‘Alarming’ South China Sea Incidents

Amid Pandemic, SE Asian Nations Warn of ‘Alarming’ South China Sea Incidents
President Rodrigo Duterte speaks at Davao International airport in Davao City in southern Philippines, Sep. 8, 2018. Lean Daval Jr/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

HANOI—Vietnam and the Philippines warned of growing insecurity in Southeast Asia at a regional summit on June 26 amid concerns that China was stepping up its activity in the disputed South China Sea during the coronavirus pandemic.

Both Hanoi and Manila lodged protests with China in April after Beijing unilaterally declared the creation of new administrative districts on islands in the troubled waterways to which Vietnam and the Philippines also have competing claims.