John Kerry urges Philippines and China to show restraint over South China Sea dispute

Manila: US Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday urged China and the Philippines to exercise restraint and reduce tensions over their maritime dispute in the South China Sea. He was speaking during a one-day visit to the Philippines. Kerry, in a joint press conference with Philippines Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay, praised the government’s measured response to the verdict by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, that favoured Manila in its territorial spat with Beijing. [caption id=“attachment_2898504” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of the South China Sea. Reuters[/caption] Kerry, who is expected to meet the country’s new president Rodrigo Duterte, said the Philippines’ responsible and restrained response to the PCA ruling was very significant. The Beijing-Manila conflict culminated on 12 July when the PCA verdict came out in favour of the latter; while China refused to accept the verdict, the Philippines welcomed it but called for restraint and sobriety. Kerry also said that the US wanted to stay neutral in the conflict, but added that Washington has an unwavering position when it comes to the protection of rights, freedoms and legal use of airspace and maritime waters as set out by international law. The head of US diplomacy also underlined the PCA ruling as “binding” and hoped the two countries will respect it. In January 2013, Manila brought a suit before the PCA saying China – which had begun expanding into several areas of the South China Sea – was occupying territory that was part of the Philippines exclusive economic zone. Their dispute centres on the Scarborough Shoal and part of the Spratly islands – which comprise over 750 reefs, islets, atolls and keys – whose sovereignty is claimed wholly or partially by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. Tensions in the region have escalated in recent years amid altercations, exchange of accusations between respective governments, as well as a rise in Chinese military presence in the area. Meanwhile, the Philippines has entered into strategic agreements with the US, Japan and Vietnam to counter Chinese presence in the region.