Banking on support from ASEAN countries to counter the strong US presence in the Asia-Pacific region, China has softened its stance on sensitive issues such as the South China Sea border dispute, while promising ASEAN huge investments.

In her tour to Asia and the Pacific to bolster the US presence in the region, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will join leaders of ASEAN plus China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand and Russia at the East Asia Summit (EAS) on Saturday in a meeting that will likely tackle global issues, most relating to China.

The issues include the global currency war and the South China Sea and other territorial disputes.

To prove the US’ commitment to balancing China’s growing influence in the region, now seen as the engine of growth for the world’s economy, US President Barack Obama will also travel to the region, includ...