Stop fueling maritime provocation, Beijing tells Washington

Beijing described Washington's latest remarks on the South China Sea on Tuesday as "inspiring belligerency" after US Secretary of State John Kerry said China's use of an oil rig in its territorial waters was provocative.

Analysts said China left no doubt that it was clearly warning the United States to abandon "hypocrisy" and to stop publicly backing countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines on issues regarding China's sovereign territory.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Kerry in a telephone conversation that China wanted the US to "stop fueling provocations by relevant parties".