Speaking to reporters in Vientiane, Philippines Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay said the dispute was not a fight between China and the United States but between China and the Philippines. (Reuters photo)BEIJING/VIENTIANE - China's foreign minister has asked US Secretary of State John Kerry to support the resumption of talks between China and the Philippines over the South China Sea, following a ruling against Beijing over the dispute earlier this month. China "hopes the United States side takes actual steps to support the resumption of talks between China and the Philippines, and support the efforts of China and Asean to maintain regional peace and stability", Wang said, according to a foreign ministry statement released on Tuesday. China has repeatedly blamed the United States for stoking tensions in the South China Sea and of taking sides in the dispute, accusations Washington denies. US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) greets China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi during a bilateral meeting at the sidelines of the Asean foreign ministers meeting in Vientiane on Monday.

Source: Bangkok Post July 26, 2016 06:49 UTC