US President Barack Obama on Thursday talked about the territorial dispute in the South China Sea at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit in Laos.
Obama urged China to recognize the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration on the South China Sea dispute, labeling it as "binding." The US President's statement came during a meeting with leaders of ASEAN member states.
"With respect to maritime issues, we'll continue to work to ensure that disputes are resolved peacefully including in the South China Sea," Obama said. "The landmark arbitration in July which is binding helped clarify maritime rights in the region."
Obama assured ASEAN leaders that the US would continue to help ensure the peaceful resolution of their territorial disputes. He urged ASEAN nations to work positively with each other to ease the tensions and stimulate regional stability.
Obama's remarks come a week after the Philippines reported that China begun its construction on the disputed Scarborough Shoal. On Wednesday, the Philippines' defense ministry presented images that showed Chinese coast guard ships vessels nearby disputed shoal in the South China Sea. Beijing, however, denied Manila's claims and requested Filipino authorities to stop "hyping up" the situation in the disputed region.
In July, the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration, based in the Hague, ruled favoring Philippines claims on the South China Sea.
