US urged not to rock the boat by flexing its muscles

China has urged the United States not to flex its muscles in the Asia-Pacific, saying it is not conducive to regional peace and stability.

The remarks, made by the Ministry of National Defense on Tuesday, were in response to the US Navy's deployment of two aircraft carriers and their accompanying ships in the Philippine Sea on Saturday.

The message was unmistakable, and the timing was deliberate, a US official familiar with the planning of the operation, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was quoted by The New York Times as saying.