South China Sea: US avoiding ‘confrontation’ in sea row, John Kerry says

“Now it is the time to test whether you are peacekeepers or troublemakers”, said Wang’s statement, referring to the three countries.

Along with the United States, Japan has been trying to establish an worldwide coalition to call on China to respect the court of arbitration ruling by cooperating with countries that respect the rule of law and global order.

The U.S. says it is encouraged by the willingness of China and the Philippines to engage in direct dialogue over the South China Sea following a tribunal ruling against Beijing earlier this month.

The watered-down ASEAN statement is seen as a major diplomatic victory for Beijing.

Kerry is the first USA cabinet member to pay a visit to Manila under the new administration, Manila-based GMA News reported.

Mark Richardson said on Tuesday that the USA will continue engaging in flights and naval activities in the South China Sea, as the conflict continues based on a Hague ruling regarding the territorial claims in the waters. On the other hand, the trilateral statement asserts that the so-called ruling which is highly contentious is binding, Wang continued. This includes from eschewing from attempts to take over uninhabited features in the South China Sea, according to a joint statement released.

Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have claims to the South China Sea, a vital waterway through which US$5 trillion (S$6.8 trillion) in annual trade passes. It is also believed to sit atop vast reserves of oil and gas. Southeast Asia expert Ian Storey of the Iseas Yusof-Ishak Institute in Singapore is quoted saying he doubts the US would pressure the Philippines into holding talks with China on those terms.

Speaking to reporters during a joint press briefing with Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay during a two-day trip to Manila on Wednesday, that Kerry had said the rights of all countries should always be respected.

“The other countries are not part of our filing of the case before the arbitral tribunal so why would we insist that it be put in the ASEAN statement?”

HIs visit comes amid the raging maritime dispute between the Philippines and China over the South China Sea.

“India supports freedom of navigation, over flight and unimpeded commerce, based on the principles of global law, as reflected notably in the UNCLOS”, Mr. Singh said while pitching for resolving the dispute through peaceful means.

The ruling was rejected as “invalid” by China, which prior to the verdict had already declared that it does not consider the tribunal to have jurisdiction in the dispute.

“We’re not trying to create a confrontation”.

“Like Cambodia, we explained that Cambodia was not involved in demanding sovereignty in the South China Sea, so Cambodia kept its stance neutral, and was not on any side”, Mr. Sounry said, adding that the dispute in the South China Sea was between the Philippines and China, not China and Asean. He said the U.S. “would like to see a process of dialogue” between Beijing and Manila.