China: US 'exaggerating' sea tension at ASEAN talks

MANILA, Philippines — China's top dipomat accused the United States of amplifying the regional tension over the South China Sea at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional forum in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

Reacting coldly to the proposal of US Secretary of State John Kerry to have a voluntary cessation of provocative acts in the disputed waters where Chinese claims overlap with the Philippines, China said that regional tensions were being overblown by "someone" outside of the region.

"Someone has been exaggerating or even playing up the so-called tension in the South China Sea," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters on Sunday. "We do not agree with such a practice, and we call for vigilance in the motives behind them."

Wang, who later met with Kerry, was visibly annoyed that Kerry kept him waiting about 30 minutes for their discussion.

Among the recent provocative actions cited by the US and ASEAN members was China's deployment of a deep-sea oil rig in early May near the Paracel islands, which are claimed by both Hanoi and Beijing. Although the Chinese removed the rig two months later, the incident continues to rankle Vietnam.

Wang insisted that China and ASEAN  are able to  safeguard  the peace and stability of South China Sea.

He said the freedom of navigation in the contested waters is "steady" and has no problems, as the US fears.

"Is it they want to confuse the region? Countries out of the region can reasonably voice their concern, but we disagree with them for coming to the region finger-pointing," Wang said. - Camille Diola and the Associated Press