Manila: All ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China must work together to reduce tension due to the overlapping claims in the South China Sea, an American official said, adding the US and all other countries in the world want to remain as neutral referees who aim to end tension in the region’s possible flashpoint.
“This is not an issue exclusively for the Philippines and the US but for all ten Asean countries, to see the importance of finding rules-based, peaceful resolution (in the South China Sea),” US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel said after holding the fifth bilateral talks with Philippine officials.
“It is a common sense tool. Now there are a range of diplomatic processes, bilateral, multilateral dialogue, including between China and the ten ASEAN countries,” said Russel.