China Urges ASEAN to Resist US and NATO Interference

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called on Southeast Asian countries to resist alleged external interference from the US and NATO in the South China Sea and other regional hotspots. Wang's comments come amid escalating tensions between China and the Philippines, with the US and NATO also involved.

The 10 ASEAN member states expressed their concerns about the situation, highlighting deep divisions within the grouping. China's assertive behavior has strained relations with its Southeast Asian neighbors, who are divided on how to deal with an increasingly confident Beijing.

Wang singled out the US and NATO as threats to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific, urging ASEAN to oppose their intervention. He also criticized Manila's rumored attempt to file a second international arbitration case against China's claims in the disputed waters.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, but neighboring countries contest these claims. The situation in the region has prompted the Quad alliance (US, Japan, Australia, and India) to warn China about using force to assert its territorial claims.