The United States Department of State urged China to cease its "provocative and unsafe conduct" in the disputed South China Sea following a near-collision incident in the disputed waters where a Chinese coast guard ship cut off a Philippine patrol vessel, APA reports citing Teletrader.
"We call upon Beijing to desist from its provocative and unsafe conduct," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
Several Asian nations have competing claims over territorial waters in the region, with Bejing taking steps towards achieving greater control over the lion's share of the sea.