China is stepping up its efforts in resolving the disputes in the South China Sea by calling for a joint military exercise with all Southeast Asian nations. 

-snip-

Yun Sun, of the Washington-based Henry L Stimson Centre, said China wanted to rally regional support and put Asean in closer alignment with China in lieu of the Shangri-La dialouge — to be held in Singapore later this week — and the international tribunal’s rulining on the South China Sea next month. 

“The Chinese defence minister’s gesture is to demonstrate that China is in a good relationship with Southeast Asia and the crisis is not as dire as percieved,” Ms Sun said.