Donald Trump is planning trip to the Philippines for Asean summit

US President Donald Trump is set to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Manila next month, according to sources familiar with the plans. This will be Trump's second consecutive appearance at the Asean gathering during his term, following his visit to Kuala Lumpur for the summit last year and Manila in 2017.

The trip comes amid escalating tensions between China and Philippines in the South China Sea, where China's territorial claims are disputed by several Asean members, most notably the Philippines, which is a US treaty ally. Washington has repeatedly condemned what it terms as China's aggressive behavior in the region. If Trump's visit to Manila happens, he is expected to hold bilateral talks with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the following day.

Melania Trump is also reportedly being considered for a trip with her husband on the US president's Asia tour, though she did not join him in Beijing for a state visit in May. The Asean summit comes as Washington seeks to reassure its allies in the Indo-Pacific region. The trip is seen as an effort to reaffirm America's political, economic and security engagement with Southeast Asia, while sending a message to Beijing about the region's concerns without explicitly antagonizing China.