US President Donald Trump today said he was prepared to mediate between claimants to the South China Sea, which include Vietnam and China. Trump said in comments at the start of a meeting in Hanoi with Vietnam’s president,
Tran Dai Quang that if he can help mediate or arbitrate, he would do so.
Trump acknowledged that China’s position on the South China Sea, nearly all of which is claimed by Beijing, is a problem. He also said that China is helping to resolve tensions over North Korea and added he hoped Russia would do the same.