As Kerry headed out on his fifth trip to North and Southeast Asia, US officials warned of Washington's renewed concern at rising territorial tensions driven by competing claims on disputed islands.
"It is unwise in the extreme for China to take actions that are disruptive of stability in the region," a senior State Department official told reporters travelling on the plane with Kerry.
All those claiming rights in the South and East China Seas should urgently clarify their maritime and island claims in line with international law, including the UN Convention on the Seas, he said.
"Ambiguity about claims generates uncertainty and raises risk."
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