Yasay said the statement was reached “on a unanimous basis to ensure that general principles and foundations on which it (Asean) was established will be upheld”.
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Wang said that recent successful visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to China and the three joint statements signed by the two leaders enriched China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, expanded the influence of their bilateral ties and was of historical significance to promote the sound and steady development of worldwide situation.
The Philippines had not sought support from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) or the worldwide community in its arbitration case against Beijing over the South China Sea, and did not want to press the issue and risk dividing the group or provoking China, Perfecto Yasay said.
Japan, Australia and the USA on Tuesday urged China to recognise the ruling by The Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in favour of the Philippines over its South China Sea dispute with Beijing.
China frequently blames the USA for raising tensions in the region and has warned regional rival Japan to steer clear of the dispute.
Kerry met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Monday on the sidelines of a regional gathering of Southeast Asian countries.
Kerry met with Philippine’s President Rodrigo Duterte for lunch on Wednesday and was due to discuss how to move ahead following the ruling, a USA official said.
U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice told Chinese officials that countries should work to reduce tensions in the South China Sea, but that the U.S. would continue to carry out the military operations there that have angered Beijing, a senior U.S. government official said Tuesday.
Rice also said the US would continue conducting military operations in the South China Sea. China has described such operations as “heavy-handed intervention” in the South China Sea.
Yasay earlier said the Philippines wanted to set a course for dialogue with Beijing, but would not say whether Manila would insist the arbitration issue be on the agenda as a prerequisite for talks.
“Those operations are lawful, they will continue, they’ve been longstanding, and again they’re created to impart confidence and stability”, he added. The next question is how Washington plans to pressure Beijing over South China Sea issues at the forum’s main event, beginning on July 26.
Admiral John Richardson, the head of US naval operations, said at a news conference in Washington that he would be very concerned if China were to declare an air defense zone over the South China Sea or carry out reclamation activity around the Scarborough Shoal after the global court ruling.
Kerry had said earlier that China’s dismissal of the worldwide court ruling as “illegitimate” presented a challenge when the global community, including the United States, sees it as legally binding and a matter of law.
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Richardson said he raised the issue with Chinese officials during his visit to China last week.
