Don't try to resolve south China sea dispute unilaterally: US tells China

June 06, 2016 20:25

United States Secretary of State John Kerry on Monday warned China against attempts to resolve the South China Sea dispute through "unilateral actions" while Chinese President Xi Jinping said the two countries must properly manage their differences avoiding "major disturbance" in ties.

"The US will make it clear that we are looking for a peaceful resolution to the dispute -- the disputes of the South China Sea," Kerry said speaking here at the opening ceremony of the two-day strategic and economic dialogue between the world's two biggest economies.

"We are not a claimant. We have taken no position on any of the claims of any claimant. The only position we've taken is let's not resolve this by unilateral action; let's resolve this through rule of law, through diplomacy, through negotiation," he said.

He urged all nations to find a diplomatic solution, rooted in international standards and rule of law, countering Chinese criticism of US interferences in the SCS dispute.

The SCS dispute has become flash point between the two countries as the US backed the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan to counter China's claims of almost all the SCS.

China also declined to take part in the international tribunal which is currently hearing the Philippines' petition under the United Nation Convention on Law of Seas.

Beijing accuses Washington of trying to expand its influence in the region taking advantage of the SCS dispute.

Kicking off the talks, billed as the most important annual dialogue between the two countries, Xi said differences between China and the US are quite normal.

"So long as the two sides tackle differences and sensitive issues in the principle of mutual respect and equality, the bilateral relations can avoid major disturbance," Xi said, adding that China and the US should strengthen communication and cooperation on Asia-Pacific affairs.

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