By Sun Xiaobo

December 25, 2015

"Leaders of the Southeast Asian countries have accepted an invitation from US President Barack Obama for a summit in Sunnylands, California early next year, according to a White House official on Wednesday. The summit is expected to be held on February 15-16, though the dates are not finalized yet.

Just last month Obama visited Southeast Asia and announced that the US would offer an additional $250 million in the next two years to help ensure the maritime security of the countries in the region. It was during this trip that he extended the invitation for the 2016 meeting of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Sunnylands, a lush retreat in Rancho Mirage, California, was the venue where Obama held an informal talk with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013. Washington now has scrupulously picked the same place to host Southeast Asian leaders."

Read more:
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/960482.shtml

NISCSS does not necessarily share in or endorse the opinions of off-site commentators.