Pence Courts Asian Allies in Pushback to China: Summit Update

(Bloomberg) -- Asian leaders gathered in Singapore on Wednesday for a series of regional summits. We follow the events here.

Latest Developments:

• Vice President Mike Pence reaffirmed the U.S.’s commitment to a “free and open” South China Sea during a meeting Wednesday with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summits. “We share your desire for a binding Asean code of conduct to ensure free and open navigation in the South China Sea,” said Pence, who was representing President Donald Trump at the summits.

Wednesday’s Schedule (Local Times):

• 12:15 p.m. - Lee hosts working lunch for Asean leaders and guests
• 1:30 p.m. - Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha
• 2 p.m. - Asean-Russia summit
• 2 p.m. - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Fintech Festival
• 3:30 p.m. - Asean-Japan summit
• 4 p.m. - Putin meets South Korean President Moon Jae-in
• 5 p.m. - Summit on Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
• 6 p.m. - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meets Putin
• 7 p.m. - Lee hosts gala dinner; family photo

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Trade tensions were evident during a press briefing with Pence and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo. Pence criticized the U.S. trade deficit with Japan, and said American products “face too many barriers to compete fairly in Japanese markets.” Abe said Japan was seeking expanded trade with the U.S. to benefit both sides.

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