US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has accused China of conducting acts that cause instability in the East Sea , and warned that Washington will not ignore it if international order is threatened.

Addressing the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, Hagel extended a clear message to China through its senior defence delegation at the dialogue. He said that China has undertaken destabilising, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the East Sea, and the US will not look the other way while fundamental principles of the international order are being challenged.

Hagel also made it clear that Washington firmly opposes any nation’s use of intimidation, coercion, or the threat of using force to assert those claims.-VNA