US Senate deplores China action in South China Sea (AFP)

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The US Senate on Monday unanimously approved a resolution that "deplores the use of force" by Chinese vessels in territorial disputes in the strategic and resource-rich South China Sea.

Tensions there have escalated in recent weeks, with the Philippines and Vietnam alarmed at what they say are increasingly aggressive actions by Beijing in disputed waters.

The symbolic resolution "deplores the use of force by naval and maritime security vessels from China in the South China Sea" and urges a "multilateral, peaceful process to resolve these disputes."

China has in the past rejected calls for multilateral talks on the South China Sea disputes, insisting on one-on-one contacts with other claimants.

The senate measure also "supports the continuation of operations by the United States Armed Forces in support of freedom of navigation rights in international waters and air space in the South China Sea."

Lawmakers reaffirmed "strong support" for the "peaceful resolution" of maritime territorial disputes there and urges all party to the feuds to "refrain from threatening force or using force to assert territorial claims."

Several recent incidents have put the security spotlight on the South China Sea, a strategic and potentially oil-rich area where China has sometimes overlapping disputes with Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Taiwan.

Recently, Vietnam carried out live-fire drills and the Philippines ordered the deployment of its naval flagship after accusing China of aggressive actions.

The United States on Saturday called for China to lower tensions through dialogue as they held talks on frictions in Southeast Asia.

Senior US official Kurt Campbell said he assured China during the talks in Hawaii that the United States welcomed a strong role for Beijing, which has warned Washington against involvement in the intensifying disputes.

"We want tensions to subside. We have a strong interest in the maintenance in peace and stability, and we are seeking a dialogue among all of the key players," said Campbell, assistant secretary of state of East Asian and Pacific affairs.

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U.S., China broach South China Sea in Hawaii talks (Reuters)

HONOLULU (Reuters) – The United States and China kicked off a new round of consultations on the Asia Pacific region in Hawaii Saturday by broaching the flaring tensions in the South China Sea, a U.S. official said.

The first set of talks in the superpowers' Asia Pacific push -- agreed upon by President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao -- came at the end of a difficult week for the two countries over the growing antagonism in the South China Sea between China and its neighbors.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt Campbell emerged from the day-long talks acknowledging detailed discussions on the South China Sea and maritime security, but offered few details.

"We want tensions to subside," Campbell said. "We have a strong interest in the maintenance of peace and stability. And we are seeking a dialogue among all the key players."

China has shown increasing assertiveness in its claim to the entire South China Sea, believed to be rich in oil and gas. Vietnam has accused Chinese boats of harassing a Vietnamese oil exploration ship in the region.

Campbell said the U.S. delegation stressed China's military expansions have raised concerns, but hoped greater transparency and dialogue would help ease those concerns.

His counterpart in the talks, China's Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai, did not make himself available to the media.

Earlier in the week, Cui told foreign reporters in Beijing China had not provoked any incidents in the South China Sea and said if Washington wanted to play a role it should urge restraint on other claimants.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton struck back by saying she was "concerned that recent incidents in the South China Sea could undermine peace and stability in the region."

She pledged support to the Philippines, which lays claims to parts of the South China Sea, along with Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

The two delegations also discussed North Korea and Campbell said he asked China to urge North Korea to deal responsibly and appropriately with South Korea without provocation.

"We believe that for North Korea to be effective in its diplomacy, it must responsibly first work and engage with South Korea and we are encouraging that process as we go forth," Campbell said.

Also discussed were issues relating to climate change, health, disaster preparedness, piracy, and poverty in the Asia Pacific region.

The next round of talks will take place in China, Campbell said.

(Editing by Mary Milliken and Todd Eastham)

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US seeks to help defuse tensions in South China Sea (AFP)

WASHINGTON (AFP) – The United States said it will seek to help defuse tensions in the strategic and resource-rich South China Sea when it holds talks with China in in Hawaii on Saturday.

Tensions in the South China Sea have escalated in recent weeks, with the Philippines and Vietnam alarmed at what they say are increasingly aggressive actions by Beijing in the disputed waters.

"The United States has no intention to fan the flames in the South China Sea and we have a very strong interest in the maintenance of peace and stability," Kurt Campbell, the top US diplomat for East Asia, told reporters on Friday.

He said he expected the South China Sea disputes to be raised Saturday at a US-China meeting in Honolulu which is part of the two countries strategic and economic dialogue. He will attend the talks.

"We've been very clear that the United States does not take a position on sovereignty issues," said Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific Affairs.

"But we also have strong principles that are long-standing in the maintenance of freedom of navigation, and free and unimpeded legal commerce and the maintenance of peace and stability," he said.

"Those principles are long-standing and will continue, and we underscore them in all of our interactions in the Asia-Pacific region," he added.

"It is not our desire to see, as I said, these flames fanned. We want recent tensions to subside and cooler heads to prevail," he said.

Campbell said the US delegation will ask the Chinese "some specific questions" about "the direction of Chinese military developments" as well as sound them out on diplomacy with North Korea and Myanmar.

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