National Security Advisor Susan Rice. Photo By Saul Loeb/ AFP
(VOVworld) - Territorial disputes in the East Sea will be a "central issue" when President Barack Obama meets Asian leaders next week, the White House said on Thursday. National Security Advisor Susan Rice said territorial claims in the East Sea would feature prominently during a trip to the Philippines and Malaysia by President Obama. She said it would be a central issue of discussion both at the East Asia Summit as well as at the ASEAN-US Summit (both to take place in Kuala Lumpur) and other engagements that the US has throughout President Obama’s visit to Asia.

Earlier, China insisted that the Asia-Pacific summit next week in Manila should not discuss rising tensions in the East Sea.

President Obama is also scheduled to meet with new Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on the sidelines of the APEC summit.