(Beijing) – US Secretary of State John Kerry met Chinese President Xi Jinping, as Washington’s security allies Tokyo and Manila fret over China’s far-reaching territorial claims. Kerry started his Valentine’s Day visit with discussions with Xi at the Great Hall of the People, followed by talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
The top US diplomat’s trip comes at a pivotal moment for the region, with flaring disputes between Beijing and Tokyo over their World War II history and disputed islands in the East China Sea sending relations between the Asian powers plummeting to their lowest point in recent years.
The issue of North Korea is also high on the agenda for Kerry’s visit, with Washington hoping to secure Beijing’s help in prodding its belligerent ally to take meaningful action towards denuclearisation.
