US President Barack Obama hosts 10 South East Asian leaders at a California desert retreat called Sunnylands today and tomorrow on the continents Western seaboard. The Summit will consist of a retreat session on economic issues, an informal working dinner, and a retreat session on political and security issues.

The media is framing this meet as an attempt by the White House to champion Obama's "pivot to Asia" and to underscore ASEAN's growing importance to its agenda. But the Straits Times Singapore suggests that the main issue driving conversations at Sunnyland will be securing a united front against China's island-building and military build-up in the South China Sea. We discuss this and other issue this morning.

This report is by Sharaad Kuttan.

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Tags:  south east asian leaders,  sunnylands,  US-ASEAN Summit,  protestors,  TPP free trade deal