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US tries to cool sea tensions at Asia security summit

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The United States on Sunday pressed its case for a freeze on hostile acts in waters contested by China and its Southeast Asian neighbours, but said it did not want to "confront" Beijing over its strategy in the region.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is pushing for an agreement to end all actions that risk further inflaming regional relations, following several tense encounters in the disputed South China Sea this year.

Washington's top diplomat is touring the region despite a slew of major international crises in other parts of the world as the US looks to reinvigorate alliances in the Asia-Pacific as part of President Barack Obama's "pivot" east.

Speaking in Myanmar's capital Naypyidaw, after an ASEAN Regional Forum, Kerry said talks with his Southeast Asian counterparts and the Chinese foreign minister were fruitful.

"I think we will see some progress on the South China Sea based on the conversations we have had here," he told reporters as he prepared to leave Naypyidaw late Sunday.

(Clockwise from L) Vietnam's Deputy FM Pham Binh Minh  South Korean FM Yun Byung Se  Japanese F...
(Clockwise from L) Vietnam's Deputy FM Pham Binh Minh, South Korean FM Yun Byung Se, Japanese FM Fumio Kishida, Philippines FM Albert Del Rosario and Myanmar FM Wunna Maung Lwin in Naypyidaw on August 10, 2014
Soe Than Win, AFP

The forum brought together Southeast Asian foreign ministers and key partners, including the US, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the European Union.

A senior US administration official said concern among its Southeast Asian allies about "Chinese behaviour was at an all-time high".

But the official insisted there would not be a "showdown" between the two world superpowers.

"We don't want to confront China. But we have a series of interests and principles that drive our approach in the region where they diverge with China," the official said.

Kerry on Saturday formally put forward Washington's proposal to cool maritime tensions based on claimant states agreeing to step back from actions that could "complicate or escalate disputes".

The US waded in to the South China Sea row following a series of maritime incidents between China and rival claimants, including Beijing's positioning of an oil rig in waters also claimed by Vietnam which sparked deadly riots in the Southeast Asian nation.

- Code of conduct -

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire sea, which lies on key shipping routes and is believed to be rich in mineral and oil deposits.

Singapore Foreign Minister K Shanmugam talks on a phone prior to the ASEAN-Australia ministerial mee...
Singapore Foreign Minister K Shanmugam talks on a phone prior to the ASEAN-Australia ministerial meeting in Naypyidaw on August 10, 2014
Soe Than Win, AFP

But its claims overlap with ASEAN states Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan.

US officials hailed American influence in ASEAN talks that began Friday, saying it had helped the bloc issue a united statement on the sea issue, which has previously seen friction between some member states with maritime claims and supporters of China.

Kerry said discussions underlined the "importance of negotiations on a binding code of conduct" to govern the bitterly-contested sea.

While China says it is not the aggressor in the disputed waters, Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday warned that "the Chinese side is bound to make clear and firm reactions" if provoked.

In a statement released by the Chinese embassy in Myanmar following Saturday's talks between Kerry and Wang, Beijing welcomed "the constructive role" played by the US in regional affairs, adding that it "hopes that the US can respect China's legitimate rights and interests in this region".

A general view of the 4th East Asia Summit foreign ministers' meeting at the Myanmar Internatio...
A general view of the 4th East Asia Summit foreign ministers' meeting at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Naypyidaw on August 10, 2014
Soe Than Win, AFP

As the forum ended, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said discussions with China had been positive.

"The Chinese side has spoken of the need to have an early conclusion to the code of conduct," he told reporters.

"Which is in stark contract to the recent past when they were not even willing to talk about it," he said.

- 'Guns and butter' -

Earlier Sunday Kerry also seized the chance to reassure his Japanese and South Korean counterparts over the US' commitment on a range of other security concerns, particularly over nuclear-armed North Korea.

The US has called on Pyongyang to release two American citizens facing trial in North Korea and urged its nationals to avoid travel to the reclusive state.

Pyongyang has also sent Foreign Minister Ri Su-Yong to attend the Southeast Asian meetings.

The US said the impoverished state could not expect international economic assistance at the same time as pursuing nuclear weapons and conducting missile tests.

"North Korea can't have both guns and butter," the State Department official said.

The United States on Sunday pressed its case for a freeze on hostile acts in waters contested by China and its Southeast Asian neighbours, but said it did not want to “confront” Beijing over its strategy in the region.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is pushing for an agreement to end all actions that risk further inflaming regional relations, following several tense encounters in the disputed South China Sea this year.

Washington’s top diplomat is touring the region despite a slew of major international crises in other parts of the world as the US looks to reinvigorate alliances in the Asia-Pacific as part of President Barack Obama’s “pivot” east.

Speaking in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw, after an ASEAN Regional Forum, Kerry said talks with his Southeast Asian counterparts and the Chinese foreign minister were fruitful.

“I think we will see some progress on the South China Sea based on the conversations we have had here,” he told reporters as he prepared to leave Naypyidaw late Sunday.

(Clockwise from L) Vietnam's Deputy FM Pham Binh Minh  South Korean FM Yun Byung Se  Japanese F...

(Clockwise from L) Vietnam's Deputy FM Pham Binh Minh, South Korean FM Yun Byung Se, Japanese FM Fumio Kishida, Philippines FM Albert Del Rosario and Myanmar FM Wunna Maung Lwin in Naypyidaw on August 10, 2014
Soe Than Win, AFP

The forum brought together Southeast Asian foreign ministers and key partners, including the US, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the European Union.

A senior US administration official said concern among its Southeast Asian allies about “Chinese behaviour was at an all-time high”.

But the official insisted there would not be a “showdown” between the two world superpowers.

“We don’t want to confront China. But we have a series of interests and principles that drive our approach in the region where they diverge with China,” the official said.

Kerry on Saturday formally put forward Washington’s proposal to cool maritime tensions based on claimant states agreeing to step back from actions that could “complicate or escalate disputes”.

The US waded in to the South China Sea row following a series of maritime incidents between China and rival claimants, including Beijing’s positioning of an oil rig in waters also claimed by Vietnam which sparked deadly riots in the Southeast Asian nation.

– Code of conduct –

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire sea, which lies on key shipping routes and is believed to be rich in mineral and oil deposits.

Singapore Foreign Minister K Shanmugam talks on a phone prior to the ASEAN-Australia ministerial mee...

Singapore Foreign Minister K Shanmugam talks on a phone prior to the ASEAN-Australia ministerial meeting in Naypyidaw on August 10, 2014
Soe Than Win, AFP

But its claims overlap with ASEAN states Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan.

US officials hailed American influence in ASEAN talks that began Friday, saying it had helped the bloc issue a united statement on the sea issue, which has previously seen friction between some member states with maritime claims and supporters of China.

Kerry said discussions underlined the “importance of negotiations on a binding code of conduct” to govern the bitterly-contested sea.

While China says it is not the aggressor in the disputed waters, Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Saturday warned that “the Chinese side is bound to make clear and firm reactions” if provoked.

In a statement released by the Chinese embassy in Myanmar following Saturday’s talks between Kerry and Wang, Beijing welcomed “the constructive role” played by the US in regional affairs, adding that it “hopes that the US can respect China’s legitimate rights and interests in this region”.

A general view of the 4th East Asia Summit foreign ministers' meeting at the Myanmar Internatio...

A general view of the 4th East Asia Summit foreign ministers' meeting at the Myanmar International Convention Center in Naypyidaw on August 10, 2014
Soe Than Win, AFP

As the forum ended, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said discussions with China had been positive.

“The Chinese side has spoken of the need to have an early conclusion to the code of conduct,” he told reporters.

“Which is in stark contract to the recent past when they were not even willing to talk about it,” he said.

– ‘Guns and butter’ –

Earlier Sunday Kerry also seized the chance to reassure his Japanese and South Korean counterparts over the US’ commitment on a range of other security concerns, particularly over nuclear-armed North Korea.

The US has called on Pyongyang to release two American citizens facing trial in North Korea and urged its nationals to avoid travel to the reclusive state.

Pyongyang has also sent Foreign Minister Ri Su-Yong to attend the Southeast Asian meetings.

The US said the impoverished state could not expect international economic assistance at the same time as pursuing nuclear weapons and conducting missile tests.

“North Korea can’t have both guns and butter,” the State Department official said.

AFP
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With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

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