US nudges China on sea disputes
US Secretary of State John Kerry nudged China on Monday to agree a code of conduct to prevent clashes in the South China Sea after the Philippines accused Beijing of a "massive" military build-up. But Kerry, speaking at Asia-Pacific foreign ministerial talks in the tiny petro-state of Brunei, said after a meeting with his Chinese counterpart that the two Pacific powers were united in their opposition to North Korea's nuclear drive. A year after a US-backed push for a South China Sea code of conduct broke down acrimoniously, this year's hosts Brunei have instilled a more cordial tone, with China agreeing Sunday to hold talks on establishing such a code. "We very much hope to see progress on a substantive code of conduct to help ensure stability in this vital region," Kerry said at a meeting with foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
