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                      Obama Heads to ASEAN Regional Summit

   by William Gallo

   President Barack Obama heads Friday to the capital of Malaysia for a
   gathering of regional leaders expected to focus on economic issues,
   terrorism and territorial disputes.

   Obama is joining the leaders of the 10 member nations of the
   Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, and other world
   leaders at the second of a pair of annual summits.

   Terror threat

   Security has been expanded throughout Kuala Lumpur amid reports of a
   terror threat by the Islamic State group, which carried out deadly
   attacks last week in Paris.

   Malaysia's police chief, Khalid Abu Bakar said Friday the reports were
   unconfirmed, but officials stressed thousands of army personnel are
   stationed or put on standby in response.

   ''

   Most of those in attendance at the ASEAN summit are coming from the
   Philippines, where they attended an annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific
   Economic Cooperation - APEC.

   Both gatherings, which typically focus on economic issues, have been
   partly overshadowed by global efforts to combat terrorism following the
   deadly Paris attacks that killed 129 people.

   South China Sea disputes

   As he did in Manila, President Obama will use the ASEAN summit to raise
   the issue of China's territorial disputes with its neighbors, according
   to senior White House officials.

   Obama this week called on China to stop its controversial construction
   of artificial islands in areas of the South China Sea that are also
   claimed by other countries.

   China's sweeping claims in the South China Sea overlap with several of
   its Southeast Asian neighbors, including most notably the Philippines
   and Vietnam.

   Beijing objects to bringing the issue up at such regional forums,
   instead preferring to deal with each rival claimant individually - a
   position that gives it greater negotiating power.

   Obama to meet PM Najib

   After departing the Philippines Friday, Obama will hold a town hall
   meeting in Kuala Lumpur. He will then meet with Malaysian Prime
   Minister Najib Razak.

   White House officials say the president will use the meeting to "very
   directly" raise U.S. concerns about the status of Malaysia's political
   opposition.

   In recent years, a rising number of opposition figures and government
   critics have been arrested on a wide array of anti-state charges.

   ''

   Former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is serving a five-year
   prison sentence after being convicted on sodomy charges his supporters
   say were politically motivated.

   Najib has also been pressured by his opponents to resign following
   reports he received $700 million into his personal accounts from the
   government-owned investment fund.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-heads-to-asean-summit/3066328.html