Manila: All ten members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and China must work together to reduce tension due to the overlapping claims in the South China Sea, an American official said, adding the US and all other countries in the world want to remain as neutral referees who aim to end tension in the region’s possible flashpoint.

“This is not an issue exclusively for the Philippines and the US but for all ten Asean countries, to see the importance of finding rules-based, peaceful resolution (in the South China Sea),” US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel said after holding the fifth bilateral talks with Philippine officials.

“It is a common sense tool. Now there are a range of diplomatic processes, bilateral, multilateral dialogue, including between China and the ten ASEAN countries,” said Russel.

“We look forward to the day China and its neighbours will conclude a binding Code of Conduct. For the meantime, there should be exercise of restraint.”

Hinting the US will remain a neutral referee to decrease tension due to overlapping claims in the South China Sea, Russel said, “We have interest in stable, health, and constructive bilateral relationship with China.”

“We have an interest between China and Chinese neighbours in the region including the Philippines,” Rusel said.

Concern for peace in a possible flashpoint that could destroy the economic development in Asean, is a worldwide concern, Russel said, adding, “This is an ongoing concern not only of claimants of Aseanbut [also] all Asia Pacific nations — and frankly all nations — who rely on freedom of navigation and sea lanes and principle of unimpeded commerce.”

In the same breath, Russel criticised China, saying “its behaviour that raises tensions, and behaviour that would appear to be inconsistent with principles enumerated, will counter those goals [to end tension in the South China Sea]”.

Secretary of State John Kerry earlier called for China, ASEAN, and claimants of the South China Sea to observe provisions of the Asean-China Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) that the two parties signed in 2002

China and Asean are in the process of making the DOC more legally binding.

DOC has called for respecting international law, upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea, and work for freedom of navigation and over-flight in the area.

The Philippines complained earlier about China’s alleged reclamation project to enlarge a shoal in the West Philippine Sea, the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines in the South China Sea — it is on the country’s western seaboard.