Kerry urges ASEAN unity in South China Sea dispute
US Secretary of State John Kerry has urged Southeast Asian nations to explore diplomatic ways to ease tensions with China over the South China Sea following an international court ruling rejecting China's territorial claims.
Kerry made the comments on Monday in Laos during a meeting with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Kerry "urged ASEAN to reach consensus and issue a joint statement on the arbitral tribunal's recent ruling on the South China Sea," the State Department said in a statement.
Earlier this month, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that there was no legal basis for Beijing to claim historic rights to resources within much of the South China Sea.
Kerry’s remarks came after ASEAN was unable to agree on a joint statement criticizing China for its territorial expansion in the South China Sea.
The State Department acknowledged that there was no consensus on the matter. Diplomats at the talks have said that Cambodia and Laos have been opposed to a strong statement against Beijing.
Also on Monday, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice and Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks over several issues concerning the two nations.
In the meeting, Rice said ties between Washington and Beijing were set to be tested after the Permanent Court of Arbitration invalidated Beijing's vast claims in the disputed waters.
Xi told Rice that he was committed to building a good bilateral relationship on "the basis of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation."
China’s territorial claims over the South China Sea overlap in parts with those of Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei.
The United States has complained that Chinese planes and ships have performed "unsafe" maneuvers while shadowing American warships and aircraft in the South China Sea.
However, China has criticized the US military presence in the Asia Pacific and suspects Washington’s military drills with countries in the region are part of efforts to contain Beijing.
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