Kerry plays down tension with China in maritime disputes

By means of Lesley Wroughton and Manuel Mogato MANILA (Reuters) – Secretary of State John Kerry on Tuesday performed down tension with China over the East China Sea, saying U.S. efforts to enhance maritime safety in South East Asia had been part of a typical process to help allies shield themselves better. Kerry mentioned maritime disputes between countries should be resolved peacefully via arbitration and the United States would discuss out when a rustic, comparable to China, took unilateral motion that raised the possibility of conflict. The US has stated it does no longer recognize an air protection zone imposed by way of Beijing amid friction with Japan over disputed islands within the East China Sea. China can be locked in territorial rows with South East Asian countries over swathes of the South China Sea.