China was a diplomatic collision course with some of its neighbors and the United States over its controversial island-building, as regional security talks opened Tuesday in Kuala Lumpur. Beijing is expanding tiny reefs in the flashpoint South China Sea into islands and topping some with military posts to reinforce its claims over the strategic waters, fanning fears of a conflict. Ahead of the gathering hosted by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that kicked off Tuesday in Malaysia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi signaled no compromise.

South China Sea tensions flare at Asia security talks. (2015, August 5). Manila Bulletin, pp. 1, 7.