China on Wednesday warned outside nations against any attempt to sow discord between Beijing and Southeast Asian countries by playing up disputes over the South China Sea, saying differences can be resolved peacefully between the affected parties themselves.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking after talks with his counterparts from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations at an annual meeting of the 10-member bloc, also reaffirmed Beijing's commitment to conclude a Code of Conduct with ASEAN governing the South China Sea that will make the disputed region more stable.
China's aggressive territorial claims in the South China Sea, which carries a third of global shipping, has drawn rebuke from the United States and become a flashpoint for the region, with parts of the sea overlapping claims by ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei.
Tensions flared anew after Chinese naval boats rammed Philippine fishing boats and Vietnam accused China of violating its sovereignty by interfering with offshore oil and gas activities in disputed waters.
The US State Department has said Chinese action in Vietnam undermined regional energy security and urged Beijing to "cease its bullying behavior" and refrain from "provocative and destabilizing activity."