US President Barack Obama is set to dive into the tumultuous diplomatic waters of the South China Sea on Tuesday at a summit dominated by rival claims to the strategically vital area.
Obama is widely expected to express concerns about the disputes between Beijing and its Southeast Asian neighbours, which have stoked tensions across the region this year and hampered efforts to foster economic co-operation.
The US president is on the final leg of a three-nation trip to Asia aimed at deepening Washington's influence in the region and countering the rise of China.
Both he and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao are among the leaders of 18 nations in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh for the two-day East Asia Summit, and the pair are set to hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the gathering.
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