US Secretary of State John Kerry says there is “no military solution” to the dispute over the South China Sea, calling on China and the Philippines to comply with an global tribunal’s decision. Zhao just smiled in response.
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Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs Perfecto Yasay Junior told India Today in Manila that the government was “grateful” for India’s support to the Philippines in the wake of a July arbitration on the South China Sea dispute.
Duterte said pressing China to comply now might result in the suspension of talks between the two countries, which would not be good.
The Philippine president says the country’s coast guard has monitored Chinese barges at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, and that they might indicate that Beijing is preparing new construction there that could ratchet up tensions.
China has been getting increasingly assertive in South China Sea notwithstanding the verdict of an arbitration court in The Hague that China had no historical title over the South China Sea. This visit has further strengthened the relationship between the two countries. It called for all disputes in the South China Sea (SCS) to “be addressed through negotiations and agreements between the parties concerned”.
Modi will leave on September 2 for a key visit to Vietnam, which like the Philippines has been embroiled in disputes with China over the South China Sea.
The remarks came ahead of a G20 summit in China on Sept 4 and 5 that is to be attended by global leaders.
Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin, asked in Beijing whether Mr Li would meet Mr Duterte there, said it was not clear what bilateral meetings might take place.
Mr Kerry also said that the U.S. has made this clear to Islamabad that Pakistan has to do more work towards clearing the terror sanctuaries and push harder against “indigenous groups” engaged in terrorist activities operating from its soil that are affecting ties with India and Afghanistan’s peace and stability.
The possibility of Japan, or other countries, including Australia, participating in US -led FONOPs has increased in the aftermath of a July 12 award in a case filed by the Philippines against China on maritime entitlements in the South China Sea. “It´s final and legally binding on both parties”, Kerry said.
“When we start formal negotiations or bilateral engagements with China, we will have to do it within the context of the arbitral decision. We support diplomacy”, said Mr Kerry yesterday.
“It serves as a basis now for us to move forward in proceeding with a diplomatic tact in processes in arriving at a peaceful solution to the dispute”, he said. China has recommended that Washington refrain from diplomatically intervening in efforts between China and Southeast Asian claimants to resolve and manage the South China Sea disputes.
“They haven’t got used to the new situation yet, but there is not much they can do but gradually adapt to it”, he added.
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United States ally the Philippines welcomed the tribunal’s ruling in July but it is keen not to anger China.
