(VOVworld) – East Sea tensions will be among major topics of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) scheduled to take place in Myanmar this weekend. At a news briefing in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, Daniel Russel, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, said participants will also discuss humanitarian aid, disaster response, climate change, education, and economics.

Daniel Russel underscored the necessity of all parties behaving responsibly

Russel said US Secretary of State John Kerry will point out US concerns about the situation in the East Sea, consult all parties concerned, and share the US stance on general guidelines that should be applied by all parties to resolve conflicts. Russel underscored the necessity of all parties behaving responsibly: “We are neutral on the issue of sovereignty. We are not neutral, however, on the issue of behavior. And that means all claimants have the obligation to clarify their claims in a peaceful manner that is consistent with international law,  including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”

According to Russel, Kerry will also share his opinion on the need for ASEAN and China to complete a Code of Conduct in the East Sea and take immediate steps to ease the current tension.