US Department of State counselor Kristie Kenney on Tuesday urged all parties in the South China Sea disputes to respect the ruling of the arbitration court set to release its final ruling today at 5 p.m. (Manila time).
Kenney, who is representing Department of State secretary John Kerry along with US ambassador to the Philippines Philip Goldberg met with Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. in a diplomatic briefing at 10 a.m. Tuesday on time for the arbitration award Tuesday at 5 p.m.
“I was very honored to meet with the secretary (referring to secretary Yasay) today and very pleased to discuss the issues around the world as well as our collaboration,” said Kenney in an ambush interview following her meeting with secretary Yasay.
Kenney, who served as US ambassador to the Philippines between 2006 to 2010 expressed hopes that the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague will finally resolve the “complicated and competing” claims over the waters of South China Sea.
“We would hope all parties respect the ruling, everyone shows restraint and use this as good basis to move forward to resolve this complicated, competing claims in a way that’s diplomatic and leads to very positive solution,” said Kenney.
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Kenney also said the US respects the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte to pursue bilateral talks with China.
“The Philippines is a sovereign nation, it will obviously makes decision (for its own). For the US, we have a long standing, historic partnership with the Philippines, we’re family in so many ways,” she said.
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She also said “China is an important partner for US on climate change, Ebola, fighting health care issues, working together with us to contain North Korea.” CDG
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