kerry USUS Secretary of State John Kerry today said that China is unilaterally trying to assert and act on territorial claims in the South China Sea. Speaking in Los Angeles at a private event , Mr Kerry called for resolving the territorial disputes through diplomacy and negotiation.

The secretary also used his address to urge support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) which would relax trade barriers among participating nations.

In his remarks, Kerry took a jibe at China saying the country is working to finish its own version of TPP, binding its market with 16 countries, extending from India to Japan. Noting that China’s agreement doesn’t promote fair play, he also alleged that it does not respect climate standards or protect intellectual property.