Secretary of State John Kerry opened talks with Beijing today focusing on economic collaboration between the U. S. and China by praising previous teamwork between the two nations on a number of issues such as climate change, disease prevention, and nonproliferation issues.
Discussing the trade dispute in the South China Sea --the most pressing current issue in East Asia-- Kerry seemed to indicate that the U. S. would remain staunchly neutral.
Kerry stated, “We have taken no position on any of the claims of any claimant.” However, given that the U.S. Navy in early May sent its third warship in seven months to the area, the U.S. certainly appears interested in the outcome. Not surprisingly, it would seem that the U.S. is angling to undercut China in this issue and help the Philippines.
China has displayed aggressive territorialism in the resource-rich South China Sea, setting up military control of the area. In response, the Philippines protested the takeover and called for arbitration of the dispute by an international tribunal. But China shows no interest in a diplomatic solution to the conflicting claims of other nations, and stated that it would ignore international attempts at arbitration.
Kerry’s address showed the Obama administration’s response to the Chinese intentions. Kerry stated, “Let’s not resolve this by unilateral action; let’s resolve this through rule of law” and urged, “all nations to find a diplomatic solution, rooted in international standards and rule of law.”
This statement is exactly in line with the position of the Philippines.
As China continues to advance its arsenal in the South China Sea, it is difficult to say how great the climax will be, and when. However, with this address, Kerry’s statement seems to have put the U.S. definitively on the Philippines’ side of the isle.