US blasts China at Southeast Asian meeting on coronavirus

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told his Southeast Asian counterparts on Thursday that China is taking advantage of the world's preoccupation with the coronavirus pandemic to push its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.

Pompeo made the accusation in a meeting via video to discuss the outbreak with the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Beijing's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea conflict with those of ASEAN members Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, and are contested by Washington, which has an active naval presence in the Pacific.

"Beijing has moved to take advantage of the distraction, from China's new unilateral announcement of administrative districts over disputed islands and maritime areas in the South China Sea, its sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel earlier this month, and its 'research stations' on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef," Pompeo said.

He also accused China of deploying militarised ships to intimidate other claimant countries from developing offshore gas and oil projects.

Most other participants focused in their statements on health, economic and social problems resulting from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

"The Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the COVID-19 situation in their respective countries, as well as information and best practices on dealing with the outbreak from a public health perspective," Singapore said.

"They noted the grave socio-economic impact of COVID-19, and emphasised the need for ASEAN and the US to work closely together on a forward-looking approach to address post-pandemic economic recovery."