The US secretary of state is expected to raise both topics in Laos this week, highlighting China's actions in each US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will continue to raise Beijing's actions in the South China Sea and the US concern over its alleged support for Russia's war in Ukraine when he attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Laos this week.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for deeper market integration with Southeast Asia during annual summit talks where territorial disputes in the South China Sea are likely to be high on the agenda

A US delegation led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken will raise concerns with Asian leaders over growing South China Sea tensions and the civil war in Myanmar at a regional summit in Laos.Blinken’s attendance at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit this week is one of his last opportunities to convey Washington’s regional interest in person ahead of the November presidential election in the US.