U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday he supported the resumption of talks between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea, following an worldwide court ruling against Beijing over the dispute earlier this month.
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Beijing rejected the tribunal’s July 12 ruling that its claims to much of the South China Sea were unfounded.
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”.
While welcoming the Philippine position to seek a peaceful solution by talking to China, Kerry said such diplomatic move should be held in line with the United Nations arbitration court ruling.
US Secretary of State John Kerry also lauded the Philippines for maintaining restraint and sobriety despite its victory even in the face of Chinese defiant stand it would not respect the United Nations tribunal’s decision.
Mr Kerry, who arrived in Manila after attending a regional summit in Laos, also met with Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte.
Along with the United States, Japan has been trying to establish an global coalition to call on China to respect the court of arbitration ruling by cooperating with countries that respect the rule of law and worldwide order.
Kerry also urged the claimant countries to “exercise restraint and to work to reduce tension” in the South China Sea.
“I would encourage President Duterte to engage in dialogue, in negotiations”, Kerry told reporters in Laos, referring to the tough-talking new Philippines leader.
China and Vietnam have had long-running territorial disputes in the Spratly Islands and the Paracels in the South China Sea.
A statement from China’s Wang Yi said Wednesday that the trilateral statement “is fanning the flames” at a time when “regional countries are determined to enhance cooperation and want to see the South China Sea situation cool down”.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement echoed this sentiment, adding that disputes in the South China Sea should be resolved “in accordance with the universally recognized principals of worldwide law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea”.
THE United States (US) has vowed to give the Philippine government a $32-million grant for its law enforcement training and services, a Palace official said on Wednesday.
Kerry, who is in Manila for an overnight visit, is also expected to meet with Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr.
Lajcak said the European Union welcomed the consensus reached between China and the ASEAN members on full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
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“We remain seriously concerned about recent and ongoing developments and took note of the concerns expressed by some ministers on the land reclamations and escalation of activities in the area, which have eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region”, the Asean communiqué said-without even mentioning the cause of these concerns, China.
