Southeast Asian defense chiefs and representatives are meeting in the Laotian capital for security talks at a time of increasing maritime disputes with China in the Asia-Pacific and as the transition to a new U.

United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday the Mutual Defense Treaty between Washington and Manila applies to armed attack in the South China Sea. The behavior of China has been concerning,

As the ramming of ships and use of water cannons dominated discussions, questions arose about the legality of China's actions A recent landmark dialogue on the South China Sea has underscored the lingering ideological divisions over the disputed waterway,