Speaking in Vientiane, Laos, following the ASEAN Regional Forum, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that the peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea is “absolutely critical”.
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Rice told Chinese officials that countries should work to reduce tensions in the South China Sea, but that the USA would continue to carry out military operations there that have angered Beijing, a senior US government official said Tuesday, July 26.
“We are trying to create a solution mindful of the rights of people established under the law.”
A tribunal based in The Hague this month ruled that China’s claim to most of the strategic waterway was inconsistent with worldwide law.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations did not refer to the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s landmark verdict against Beijing’s territorial claims in the July 25 communique. He added that it was time for the U.S.to “move away from public tensions and turn the page” over the disputes and handle conflicts with peace and diplomacy.
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 US official said.
The head of United States diplomacy also underlined the PCA ruling as “binding” and hoped the two countries will respect it.
Kishida conveyed Japan’s concern about the situation in the South China Sea and said he hopes any action that could heighten tension in the region will be avoided, according to a Japanese official.
“We will begin with the ruling – that will be the foundation”, said Duterte’s spokesman, Ernesto Abella.
It said that within the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, China had “violated the Philippines’ sovereign rights in its exclusive economic zone by: (a) interfering with Philippine fishing and petroleum exploration; (b) constructing artificial islands; and (c) failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone”.
During the foreign ministers’ meeting between China and ASEAN nations (10+1), China and the ASEAN nations issued a joint statement on full and effective implementation of the DOC, which reiterates that disputes should be resolved peacefully through negotiation between the parties directly concerned, said Lu.
The former Philippine government, headed by Benigno Aquino III, unilaterally initiated the South China Sea arbitration against China in 2013.
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.
China, which also is attending the conference, has rejected The Hague-based tribunal’s decision, saying it has a historical claim over most of South China Sea.
Philippines Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay had agreed not to mention the court ruling in the statement, Sounry said.
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The US’ top diplomat said that Washington wanted China and the Philippines to engage in talks and “confidence-building measures”. It is disputing the sovereignty over a group of islets in the East China Sea, and closely watches China’s behavior in the South China Sea, where Beijing is pitted against Hanoi and Manila, among others.
