East Asia Summit statement calls for restraint in activities in South China Sea

Leaders from ASEAN member states and countries including Japan, the United States and China have called for self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would escalate disputes in the South China Sea.

The leaders issued a chairman’s statement following Friday’s East Asia Summit in Laos.

The statement refers to the South China Sea, where China is increasing its presence and is locked in territorial disputes with the Philippines and other countries.

The statement says, “We…