Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

US Secretary of State John Kerry says Washington does not take a position on the competing sovereignty claims to the land features in the South China Sea. Kerry made the remarks during a joint press conference with his Philippine counterpart Perfecto Yasay in Manila.

Kerry said he was satisfied that the ASEAN communique issued earlier this week championed the rule of law. But he insisted the arbitration award issued by an ad-hoc tribunal was legally binding.

Yasay says the communique showed ASEAN was united on the need to stick to international law and ensure peace. He added that the dispute is only between Manila and Beijing, not between China and ASEAN.