China to Obama: Back off from sea dispute

MANILA, Philippines - Beijing on Wednesday warned United States President Barack Obama to keep out of the South China Sea issue.

"The United States should stop playing up the South China Sea issue, stop heightening tensions in the South China Sea and stop complicating disputes in the South China Sea," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei said in a press briefing.

Obama earlier called on China to halt all reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea and South China so as to ease tensions in the disputed seas.

READ: Obama: China must stop all reclamation

The Chinese official, however, stressed that no country has the right to "point fingers" at China's massive reclamation activities.

The American leader said in a statement after a bilateral meeting with President Benigno Aquino III that they discussed the impacts of China's reclamation and construction activities on regional stability.

"We agreed on the need for bold steps to lower tensions including pledging to halt further reclamation, new construction and militarization of disputed areas in the South China Sea," Obama said.

Obama earlier assured the commitment of the US to defend its longtime ally, the Philippines.

The US president is in the country for the 23rd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

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