AS expected by China watchers, China announced a $20-billion loan and infrastructure program for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at last week’s Asean and East Asia Summit in Myanmar. On top of that, China floated the possibility of a “friendship treaty” with Southeast Asian nations in an apparent bid to defuse regional tensions that spiked this year over contested seas.

At the East Asia Summit in Myanmar on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said $10 billion would be made available to the 10-member Asean in cheap loans and a further $10 billion for infrastructure projects.

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