Philippines’ Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario, US Secretary of State John Kerry, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se and Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh walk after posing for a photo at the 4th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers Meeting at the Myanmar International Convention Center (MICC) in Naypyitaw. — Reuters

NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar — The United States sought to ease maritime tensions as Asian and global powers gathered for security talks on Sunday, but said that it did not want to “confront” China over its strategy in the region.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is pushing for an agreement to end all acts that risk further inflaming relations between Beijing and its Southeast Asian neighbors, following several tense encounters in the contested South China Sea this year.

Washington’s top diplomat is touring the region despite a slew of major international crises in other parts of the world as the US looks to reinvigorate alliances in the Asia-Pacific as part of President Barack Obama’s “pivot” east.

Observers say sea disputes will dominate the ASEAN Regional Forum in Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw on Sunday, which brings together Southeast Asian foreign ministers and key partners, including the US, Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the European Union.

While Washington is looking to reassure its Southeast Asian allies, officials insist there will not be a “showdown” between the two world superpowers.

“We don’t want to confront China. But we have a series of interests and principles that drive our approach in the region where they diverge with China,” a US administration official told reporters on Sunday.

Kerry on Saturday formally put forward Washington’s proposal to cool maritime tensions based on claimant states agreeing to step back from actions that could “complicate or escalate disputes.”

The US waded in to the South China Sea row following a series of maritime incidents between China and rival claimants, including Beijing’s positioning of an oil rig in waters also claimed by Vietnam.

China claims sovereignty over almost the entire sea, which lies on key shipping routes and is believed to be rich in mineral and oil deposits.

But its claims overlap with ASEAN states Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, as well as Taiwan.

US officials hailed American influence in ASEAN talks that began Friday, saying it had helped the bloc issue a united statement on the sea issue, which has previously seen friction between some member states with maritime claims and supporters of China.

“We think we have been successful in galvanising and serving as a catalyst,” said a State Department official.

ASEAN said it was “seriously concerned” over the maritime disputes, in a statement by foreign ministers on Sunday, that had been delayed as members wrangled over the language of the South China Sea section.

“We urged all parties concerned to exercise self-restraint and avoid actions which would complicate the situation and undermine peace, stability, and security,” it said.

Ahead of the security forum Kerry seized the chance to reassure regional allies Japan and South Korea on US commitment on a range of other security concerns, particularly over nuclear-armed North Korea.

“We have a great deal to talk about with respect to the DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) and the security issues in the region,” Kerry said in a meeting with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts on Sunday, after the sparring Asian neighbors held rare bilateral talks.

The US has called on Pyongyang to release two American citizens facing trial in North Korea and urged its nationals to avoid travel to the reclusive state.

Pyongyang has also sent its foreign minister Ri Su Yong to attend the Southeast Asian meetings. — AFP