CEBU, Oct 29 — Beijing accused Manila today of “erecting multiple obstacles” to its attendance at an Asean meeting in the Philippines this week, a claim rejected by the South-east Asian country’s defence chief.

The war of words is the latest instance of tensions between the two countries — long at loggerheads over competing claims in the South China Sea — threatening to overshadow an Asean event.

The bloc’s July leaders summit in the Philippine capital opened only a day after a clash between sailors in the disputed waterway disrupted months of relative calm.

China has typically sent a senior official to the annual defence meeting, which brings together defence chiefs from the 11-member Association of South-east Asian Nations along with dialogue partners from the United States, Japan, Australia and others.