China and a powerful bloc of countries in Southeast Asia are likely to touch on a deep maritime dispute when their heads of state meet next month at the East Asia Summit, but analysts say it will be without language that would offend an increasingly respected Beijing. It became clear last week that US President Donald Trump would skip the summit. He should reconsider, writes Walter Lohman. US-China clash of civilisations is being played out in the South China Sea, according to Mark Valencia, as their hard and soft power confrontation shape the international order