Beijing warns Washington against fueling maritime provocation

Describing Washington's latest remarks on the South China Sea as "inspiring belligerency," Beijing has reportedly urged US to stop fueling maritime provocation.

According to China Daily, China's foreign Minister Wang Yi told Kerry in a telephone conversation that China wanted the US to "stop fueling provocations by relevant parties".

Wang said that Beijing urged Washington to stand firmly by its previous commitments, be cautious in words and actions and observe the maritime situation around China in an objective and fair manner.

Earlier, US Secretary of State John Kerry had said that China's use of an oil rig in its territorial waters was provocative.

However, during the telephone conversation with Wang, Kerry said the US had no intention of judging when it came to the sovereignty of a territorial issue and that it hoped that all parties concerned handled issues properly and maintained the peace and stability of the region, the report added.