China accuses US of 'navigation bullying' in South China Sea

MANILA: China blasted a top US Navy official Friday after he criticised Beijing's increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea, saying it's America's military deployments in the disputed waters which it called navigation bullying that could spark confrontations.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila said it strongly deplored US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro's remarks, which were unfounded accusations against and maliciously smeared China and inflated the China threat .

In an interview Tuesday with The Associated Press while on a visit to Manila, Del Toro underscored how Beijing has encroached in sovereign waters of its Asian neighbours in violation of international law.

US military focus in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the disputed South China Sea, would never slacken and, in fact, has intensified despite the war in Ukraine, he said in an assurance to Asian allies, including the Philippines.

China has had increasingly tense territorial spats in recent years with the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia in the South China Sea

China has had increasingly tense territorial spats in recent years with the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia in the South China Sea, which China claims virtually in its entirety on historical grounds.

Brunei and Taiwan also have claims in the contested waters.

Washington lays no claims to the strategic waters but has said the peaceful resolution of the disputes along with freedom of navigation and overflight in the waterway where a bulk of world trade transits are in the US national interest.