John Kerry actually said...

"We do not want it to become the hostage of some of these other tensions, all of which are real."

"No, of course not. Not only do I not believe it, but I've raised it in my meetings over the years, raised it consistently as Secretary of State, as senator."

"What we are trying to achieve now is really to establish some stability if we can, in the relationship, without conceding anything."

"I do not think that the choice we make with respect to Africa ought to be just based on what China is doing."