The United States has assured China that it will not take any side in the dispute between Beijing and the Philippines over the South China Sea.

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi, on Monday, met U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' conference.

Like Us on Facebook

Kerry, in the meeting, assured the Chinese leader that the U.S. would not take sides between Beijing and Manila in the South China Sea territorial dispute.

"I want to tell you that Secretary Kerry has made it very clear that the United States will not take sides on an arbitral ruling of the South China Sea arbitration case," Wang said after the meeting, Xinhua reported. "The U.S. supports the resumption of talks between China and the Philippines. The US also supports resolving the issue by dialogue and negotiation.

Wang asked the U.S. assistance to resume the Beijing-Manila dialogue over the dispute. The Philippines recently rejected China's offer for "conditional" talks to resolve the South China Sea issue. Beijing had proposed to hold talks
"outside" the court verdict.

The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, in its long pending verdict on July 12, rejected China's claims over the disputed South China Sea saying that the country has no legal authority to claim the contested territory. China has strongly opposed the verdict while maintaining that it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the contested waters.

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice, who began her four-day trip to China on Sunday, met with President Xi Jinping on Monday. The Chinese President, during the meeting, called on both sides to enhance cooperation in international and regional affairs.

TagsSouth China Sea, china, US, Philippines, susan rice, John Kerry