The guided missile cruiser USS Shiloh is anchored at a former US naval base in the Philippines on May 30 as part of US military patrol in the East Sea amid rising territorial tensions in the region. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Foreign Minister of the Philippines - Albert del Rosario - and US Secretary of State John Kerry discussed territorial tensions in the Bien Dong Sea (East Sea) on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 48) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on August 6.
According to the Philippine Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Charles Tose, Kerry stated that the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had recently assured him that Beijing is willing to negotiate for the resolution of the dispute, thus providing an opportunity for the Philippines to seek proof of China’s dedication to finding a peaceful solution.
On his part, Rosario briefed his US counterpart on the progress made in the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China over their claims in the East Sea.
During the 30-minute meeting, the two diplomats also touched upon the status of the US-Philippines Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement, which was signed last year to allow the US forces greater access to the Southeast Asian nation’s military bases.-VNA
