Update | South China Sea tensions to dominate Sino-Asean talks in Singapore

Senior officials of China and Southeast Asian nations are gathering for two-day talks, amid Beijing’s strengthening efforts to lure support from its neighbours ahead of an international court ruling over the South China Sea disputes.

Just weeks before an international court ruling on territorial disputes over the sea, senior diplomats from China and 10 nations from the Association of Southeast Asian nations (Asean) will meet in Singapore – an event that will mark the 25th anniversary of the start of the Sino-Asean dialogue

This event is jointly chaired by China’s Deputy Foreign Minister, Liu Zhenmin, and the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Chee Wee Kiong.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Monday that apart from making preparations for a Sino-Asean summit in September, the consultation was also aimed at implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea signed between Asean and China in 2002.

Four Asean members – the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei – have rival claims to parts of the sea with China.

The Philippines has taken a case against China to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague. The court’s ruling, due in late May or early June, is expected to go against China.