ASEAN wants talks on nonaggression pact with China soonest
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Southeast Asia's top diplomats say will seek talks "as soon as possible" on a proposed nonaggression pact with China aimed at preventing clashes in the disputed South China Sea.
An initial draft of a joint communique to be issued by the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which was seen The Associated Press on Wednesday, says the ministers will ask senior diplomats to initiate talks on the so-called code of conduct in the disputed waters after their governments agreed on a framework of the accord with China.
The long-seething territorial disputes, alarm over North Korea's missile tests and the rise of Islamic radicalism are expected to grab the spotlight in the annual gathering in Manila starting Saturday.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}China claims the strategic waterways virtually in totality.