US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Beijing Tuesday, leading the American delegation to the 6^th Strategic and Economic Dialogue (SED) with China.

Even as talks are set to begin Wednesday morning, a senior US official speaking anonymously said China's claim to the South China Sea is "problematic" and has further raised tensions in the region.

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The senior official spoke with reporters accompanying the US delegation, saying he wanted to be anonymous so he could speak frankly without advancing any official position on the issues that will be discussed in the SED.

The official said the US side will definitely raise the South China Sea disputes between China and a few other countries, including Japan and the Philippines which have existing security alliances with the US.

The US has frequently stated that it takes no side in the disputes, although it has openly criticized China's claim on the whole of the South China Sea.

Aside from the South China Sea disputes being high on the SED agenda, other issues that may be tackled include internet hacking and trade issues, as well as North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

In May, Washington indicted five Chinese military officers for hacking into US businesses and stealing corporate and proprietary information, possibly with commercial intentions in mind.

Last  Monday, Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said he believed the US had "deliberately fabricated" the facts used in the indictments, at the same time expressing doubts about the sincerity of the US to resolve internet security issues through dialogue.

fficials in John Kerry's delegation said they will try to convince their counterparts led by State Councilor Yang Jiechi and Vice Premier Wang Yang to restore a bilateral working group that will draw up rules for protecting the internet.

TagsJohn Kerry, 6th SED, Great Wall