China has also blamed the US for stirring up trouble in the South China Sea, a vital waterway through which more than $5tn of trade moves annually. Secretary of State John Kerry will urge south-east Asian countries in meetings in Laos next week to explore diplomatic ways to ease tensions with China over the South China Sea, following an international court ruling denying China’s claims. Related: South China Sea dispute: Philippines says China has warned of 'confrontation'“The secretary will reinforce our hope that … the parties will now turn to constructively engaging in a effort to find diplomatic ways to peacefully interact in the South China Sea,” a senior US official told reporters ahead of the trip. The 27-nation ASEAN regional forum includes the US, North Korea, Russia, Singapore, Pakistan, India, Vietnam, Australia, China, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The annual ASEAN gathering will be the first since the 12 July ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in a claim brought by the Philippines that China has no historic title over the waters of the South China Sea.

Source: The Guardian July 23, 2016 12:49 UTC