Kenney, Yasay meet ahead of arbitral ruling

MANILA, Philippines – US Department of State Counselor Kristie Kenney yesterday met with Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay Jr. for Washington’s call for parties to respect the ruling in the South China Sea dispute.

They met hours before the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague released its ruling on the case that the Philippines filed against China for its excessive claims in the South China Sea.

Kenney arrived at the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday morning with US Ambassador Philip Goldberg.

She urged China and the Philippines to abide by the ruling of the arbitral court.

“We would hope all parties respect the ruling, everyone shows restraint and use this as good basis to move forward to resolve this complicated, competing claims in a way that’s diplomatic and leads to very positive solution,” Kenney told reporters in a chance interview.

Kenney, former US ambassador to the Philippines, also said she was “very pleased to discuss the issues around the world as well as our collaboration.”

But China already called the ruling “invalid” even before it was handed down by the court.

Chinese state media Xinhua news agency said the “South China Sea arbitration abuses international law.”