Kerry says no military solution to South China Sea dispute

He said the Philippines would not engage China “if they will impose as a condition that we will only have bilateral talks outside the framework of the arbitral tribunal’s decision”. Although China has rejected the orde, it was interested in a negotiated resolution and had shown a willingness to engage, Kerry said.

But he said the Philippines can take only so much, with China insisting that it owns the contested territories and refusing to recognize a July 12 ruling by an worldwide tribunal that invalidated Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea based on historical grounds.

An global arbitration tribunal in the PCA ruled on 12 July that China violated the Philippines’ rights in the South China Sea, one of the busiest commercial shipping routes in the world. China, however, ignored the ruling.

Yasay has said the Philippines will not resort to any drastic action against China. “We will not be engaging China in any shooting war in this instance. We will exercise maximum tolerance, restraint and sobriety for this goal”, Yasay said.

China seized Scarborough Shoal in 2012, denying Philippine fishermen access, one of the factors that prompted Manila to seek arbitration.

The court accused China of interfering with the Philippines’ fishing and petroleum exploration, building artificial islands in the waters and failing to prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing in the zone.

He said there will be a time when he will make it clear to China that its expansive territorial claims are “totally unacceptable to us”.

In a joint statement issued after the second bilateral strategic and commercial dialogue in New Delhi, India and U.S. “stressed the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation, freedom of over-flight, and unimpeded lawful commerce throughout the region, including in the South China Sea”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected visit Vietnam, another country Beijing has disputes with, on his way to China for the G20 Summit early September.

China claims most of the South China Sea.

“If you sign a treaty that calls for global arbitration around maritime issues, the fact that you’re bigger than the Philippines or Vietnam or other countries.is not a reason for you to go around and flex your muscles”, Obama said.

“The South China Sea, located at the heart of Southeast Asia, not only brings about many important benefits to nations in the region but it is also a vital route to maritime and air transport of the world”, Quang said. He stressed the importance of peace, stability and freedom of navigation and over flight, expressed serious concerns about ongoing developments, and emphasised the urgent need to conclude a binding code of conduct (COC). We haven’t taken a position on anybody’s claim.

Mr Kerry added, “We (India and the US) are cooperating in our approach to the Tribunal and recognition of the rule of law in respect to the South China Sea”.

China has territorial claims to a number of islands in the South China Sea, notably to the Spratly Islands, known as Nansha Islands in China, which are believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves and contested by the Philippines.