The United States warned China over "destabilising, unilateral actions" regarding territorial claims in the South China Sea on Saturday, reports Reuters.
"In recent months, China has undertaken destabilising, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea," US Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel, told delegates at a Asia Pacific Security Forum, Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
"[The US] will not look the other way when fundamental principles of the international order are being challenged," he added.
"We firmly oppose any nation’s use of intimidation, coercion, or the threat of force to assert these claims," he said, stating the US would not take a side on states' territorial claims in that region.
China has rejected any claims of aggression meanwhile. "We will never stir up trouble, but will react in the necessary way to the provocations of countries involved," China's President Xi Jinping was quoted by Xinhua as saying, during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia the day before.
"In recent months, China has undertaken destabilising, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea," US Defence Secretary, Chuck Hagel, told delegates at a Asia Pacific Security Forum, Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
"[The US] will not look the other way when fundamental principles of the international order are being challenged," he added.
"We firmly oppose any nation’s use of intimidation, coercion, or the threat of force to assert these claims," he said, stating the US would not take a side on states' territorial claims in that region.
China has rejected any claims of aggression meanwhile. "We will never stir up trouble, but will react in the necessary way to the provocations of countries involved," China's President Xi Jinping was quoted by Xinhua as saying, during a meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia the day before.