Southeast Asian leaders will express serious concern over territorial disputes in the South China Sea when they gather in an annual summit in Manila this week.<br/><br/>However, a draft of a communique to be issued at the end of the meeting indicates they will adopt subdued language on a conflict that has increasingly alarmed Asian and Western governments.<br/>'<br/>Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who has warmed once-frosty relations with China, hosts his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on Saturday. <br/><br/>The summits have spotlighted the escalating conflicts involving four ASEAN member states, Taiwan and China in recent years. <br/><br/>The 20-page draft communique devotes fewer paragraphs and repeats language of concern already used in past ASEAN communiques.<br/>'<br/>China has steadfastly opposed the raising in international forums of its territorial disputes with five governments, including ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. <br/><br/>It prefers one-on-one negotiations with each of its rival claimants, in part to shut out the United States, which it has accused of meddling in an Asian issue.''<br/>''''''''<br/>