Protests, China Sea tensions at APEC summit

AFP, MANILA: Police and protesters clashed Thursday outside a gathering of Asia-Pacific leaders who were meeting for a summit dominated by a US-China tussle for regional influence. The annual 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gathering—hosted this year by the Philippines—is meant to forge trade unity but often finds itself sidetracked by other events. This week US President Barack Obama has sought to bolster allies locked in a territorial row with China over the South China Sea, which is home to some of the world’s most important shipping lanes. And despite the Philippines undertaking its biggest security operation for the summit with more than 20,000 police and soldiers deployed, anti-APEC protests flared on Thursday morning close to the summit venue. Police with full riot gear, including helmets, shields and wooden batons, fired water cannon at hundreds of protesters who tried to break through barricades about one kilometre (around half a mile) from the summit venue. However, despite on-and-off scuffles throughout Thursday morning, there was no major violence and police allowed the protesters—who mainly hailed from left-wing groups—to continue their rally behind the barricades. Smaller nations with overlapping claims to the South China Sea, including the Philippines, have been rattled by Beijing’s increasing assertiveness in the waters in recent years. These actions have included a spate of island building on disputed reefs and shoals, and many Asian nations have been looking to Washington for support. China had been hoping that the long festering territorial dispute would not surface at the trade gathering.

Protests, China Sea tensions at APEC summit

AFP, MANILA: Police and protesters clashed Thursday outside a gathering of Asia-Pacific leaders who were meeting for a summit dominated by a US-China tussle for regional influence. The annual 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) gatheringhosted this year by the Philippinesis meant to forge trade unity but often finds itself sidetracked by other events. This week US President Barack Obama has sought to bolster allies locked in a territorial row with China over the South China Sea, which is home to some of the worlds most important shipping lanes. And despite the Philippines undertaking its biggest security operation for the summit with more than 20,000 police and soldiers deployed, anti-APEC protests flared on Thursday morning close to the summit venue. Police with full riot gear, including helmets, shields and wooden batons, fired water cannon at hundreds of protesters who tried to break through barricades about one kilometre (around half a mile) from the summit venue. However, despite on-and-off scuffles throughout Thursday morning, there was no major violence and police allowed the protesterswho mainly hailed from left-wing groupsto continue their rally behind the barricades. Smaller nations with overlapping claims to the South China Sea, including the Philippines, have been rattled by Beijings increasing assertiveness in the waters in recent years. These actions have included a spate of island building on disputed reefs and shoals, and many Asian nations have been looking to Washington for support. China had been hoping that the long festering territorial dispute would not surface at the trade gathering.