The trade war between the United States and China is dominating the discussions at a summit of Southeast Asian leaders in Singapore.
US President Donald Trump has decided to skip the meeting. His deputy Mike Pence is there to reiterate the Trump administration’s “commitment” to keep the Indo-Pacific region free and open amid straining relations with Asian countries over the “America-first” policy.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is also in Singapore but it’s not clear whether he will meet Pence to discuss the trade dispute.
On the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit, Pence has already met Myanmar’s leader Aung San Suu Kyi and told her that the persecution of Rohingya was inexcusable.
Al Jazeera's Wayne Hay reports from Singapore.
