Kerry set to make 5th trip to Asia

MATTHEW LEE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry will make his fifth trip to Asia this week, traveling to South Korea, China and Indonesia.

The State Department said Sunday that Kerry would be visiting Seoul, Beijing and Jakarta beginning on Thursday. The trip comes amid heightened tensions between China and its smaller neighbors over territorial disputes in the East and South China seas.

Japan is usually a stop when U.S. officials visit China and South Korea but is not on Kerry's itinerary. He met Japan's foreign minister in Washington on Friday.

After Indonesia, Kerry will fly on to the United Arab Emirates before returning home.