US-China talks on South China Sea should have broader participation

Multiple regional players eye participation as Trump and Xi prepare for Beijing meeting.

- VENUS UPADHAYAYA & LUKAS LAS

US President Donald Trump is likely to visit China for a state visit sometime soon after the success of the fourth round of US-China trade talks in Spain. A telephonic conversation is also scheduled between Trump and Xi Jinping on September 19.

While there has been much on the table for discussion and much will be in the months to come including Tiktok, Fentanyl, Boeing and Soyabean-the watchers will also be keenly interested to know if the two leaders will discuss the South China Sea dispute and further open doors for participation of other stakeholders like Phillipines, India, Vietnam and Taiwan in the subsequent discussions.

SOUTH CHINA SEA IS TENSE

While the trade talks continued between US and China, the tensions also kept increasing in the South China Sea with the mounting US presence in the region. The US also continues to be negotiating or has already negotiated with other countries' trade representatives in the region. These nations have strategic interests in the region including Phillipines, Japan, Taiwan, India and some South East Asian countries.

The South China Sea dispute has also repeatedly come up in discussions on the US' renewed focus on the Asia-Pacific region, within the Indo-Pacific. Secretary of War, Peter Hegseth in a telephonic conversation with China's Minister of National Defense, Dong Jun on September 9 described Asia-Pacific as a "priority theatre" and said the US will resolutely protect its interests.