WorldNEW DELHI, AFP -The United States is united with its allies in upholding freedom of navigation rights in the South China Sea following a tribunal's decision on the contested waters, Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday. Speaking on a visit to New Delhi, Kerry called on China and the Philippines to abide by the arbitration tribunal's recent decision, saying “there is no military solution” to the dispute. Kerry said the United States itself had no claim over the waters, that are crucial to international shipping, but would stand up for freedom of navigation rights. Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea despite partial counter-claims from the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan. “The US continues to call upon China and Philippines to abide by the tribunal's decision.

Source: Sunday Times August 31, 2016 08:48 UTC