Yasay was speaking after returning from a meeting of foreign ministers in Laos, during which ASEAN dropped a US-backed proposal to mention the landmark July 12 court ruling, which nullified Beijing’s claims to most of the South China Sea.
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Philippine Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr (4th from left) links his hands with ASEAN foreign ministers, as well as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (2nd) during the ASEAN-China Ministerial Meeting as part of the 49th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) and related meetings in Vientiane, Laos, on July 25, 2016.
Kerry, however stressed that the United States takes a strong position in supporting the rule of law, as well as on protecting rights and freedoms of nations to freedom of navigation and use of air and sea space.
“It’s legally binding and it’s obviously a decision of the court that is recognized under worldwide law”, Kerry said.
China and a collection of Southeast Asian countries have resumed talks to put this whole Hague Tribunal ruling on the South China Sea behind them, after Beijing swiftly rejected the court’s judgement earlier this month. The grouping could have leveraged the recent decision by a permanent arbitration panel, which ruled in favor of the Philippines in a case it brought against China in their dispute in the South China Sea.
“At the same time, and I want to be equally clear about this, we urge all the claimants to exercise restraint and to work to reduce tensions”, Kerry said.
“The dispute in the South China Sea is between the Philippines and China, not ASEAN and China”, he said.
“The decision itself is a binding decision but we’re not trying to create a contradiction, we’re trying to create a solution – mindful of the rights of people that are established under the law”.
While it is seen by some as a deviation from the USA position, a senior State Department official said Washington has never opposed direct talks between Beijing and Manila and a bilateral talk has always been an option.
China claims nearly all of the area, through which nearly 5 trillion euros worth of trade passes every year.
Since he took office, police reported over 200 deaths while media tallies have said more than 300 have died, including suspected extrajudicial killings.
But Kerry said the United States saw an “opportunity” for claimants to peacefully resolve the row. It is also believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil and gas.
MANILA, Philippines (AP) – The new Philippine leader on Wednesday gathered four past presidents, most of whom have been politically at odds with one another, to discuss a unifying worry: their country’s territorial disputes with China.
China is adamantly opposed to an ASEAN stand on the South China Sea, preferring to deal with the disputed claims on a bilateral basis.
“There were no agreements regarding that, except that the President did mention that whatever talks we will engage in will begin with the ruling”.
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On Wednesday, the Philippines said it had “vigorously pushed” for the inclusion, but denied that its failure to secure the reference was a diplomatic win for China.
