Obama ends Asia tour

Barack Obama ended an Asian tour  yesterday with a warning to China against using force in territorial disputes, as Chinese authorities accused the US president of ganging up with "troublemaking" allies.
The barbs ensured a tense finish to a four-nation trip dominated by the worsening maritime rows between China and US allies in the region, which have triggered fears of military conflict.
"We believe that nations and peoples have the right to live in security and peace, to have their sovereignty and territorial integrity respected," Obama told a gathering of US and Filipino troops in Manila.
"We believe that international law must be upheld, that freedom of navigation must be preserved and commerce must not be impeded. We believe that disputes must be resolved peacefully and not by intimidation or force."
Close American ally the Philippines has been embroiled in one of the highest-profile territorial disputes with China, over tiny islets, reefs and rocks in the South China Sea.
China claims nearly all of the South China Sea, which is believed to contain huge deposits of oil and gas, even waters and islands or reefs close to its neighbours.
The Philippines and the United States signed an agreement on Monday that will allow a greater US military presence on Filipino bases.
Nevertheless, an editorial in the state-run China Daily newspaper yesterday signalled that Chinese authorities viewed Obama's trips to Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and the Philippines as a tour of anti-Chinese hostility.
"It is increasingly obvious that Washington is taking Beijing as an opponent," the editorial said as it summarised his visit.
"With Obama reassuring the US allies of protection in any conflict with China, it is now clear that Washington is no longer bothering to conceal its attempt to contain China's influence in the region."