11.   The three-day informal talks, which continue through Thursday, are the first since tensions between rival claimants re-emerged early this year.

12.   They are expected to discuss the Spratlys dispute, which is seen as a potential powderkeg for conflict between rival claimants.

13.   Vice Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan was answering a question about nervousness among rival claimants to the Spratlys after China began intimidating Taiwan with war games near its shores.

14.   He called on rival claimants to the Spratly islands to work out a settlement and volunteered US assistance in the process.

15.   In addition, the navy is under orders to destroy boundary markers left by rival claimants and arrest unauthorized foreign fishermen.

16.   Enrile said Filipino troops continued to patrol the reefs and would demolish any markers put up by rival claimants.

17.   The two sides have been rival claimants to represent all China, seeking to outmanoeuvre each other in the diplomatic field.

18.   The two rival claimants to sovereignty over all China have no official ties.

19.   Trade between the two rival claimants to all-China is flourishing, but conducted via third parties, such as Hong Kong.

20.   Kissinger told reporters on arrival from Hong Kong on Monday it was likely the rival claimants to the resource-rich islands would find a negotiated settlement.