Introducing any security topic in Apec’s formal discussions is a touchy issue because a major member, China, fears that could pave the way for its territorial conflicts in the South China Sea to be put on the agenda. Beijing says the disputes are an Asian problem outsiders such as the United States have no business dabbling in. China sent its top diplomat, Wang Yi, to Manila last week to ask the Philippines not to raise “contentious issues” in the Apec summit to foster Chinese President Xi Jinping’s attendance, Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Charles Jose told a news conference in Manila last week.

Avendaño, C. O. (2015, November 17). Sea row to eclipse Apec agenda. Philippine Daily Inquirer, pp. A1, A20.