WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged Thursday a sharp disagreement with China over how the international community should respond to the use of chemical weapons in Syria and urged Beijing to play a “positive” role in the U.N. Security Council on the issue.

China has strongly opposed strikes on Syria by the U.S. or its allies as a response to an Aug. 21 chemical attack near Damascus that the U.S. blames on government forces and says killed more than 1,400 people. In the council, where China holds veto power, it has joined with Russia in opposing action against Syria.