CHINA has hit out at US “provocations” and said it does not fear “trouble” over its territorial disputes with neighbours in the South China Sea.

“Countries outside should play a constructive role in this regard, not the other way around,” Admiral Sun Jianguo told a security summit in Singapore today.

“The South China Sea issue has become overheated because of the provocations of certain countries for their own selfish interests.”

Sun spoke one day after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter warned that Chinese construction on a South China Sea islet claimed by the Philippines would prompt “actions being taken” by the United States and other nations.

“We do not make trouble but we have no fear of trouble,” the Chinese admiral said.

The admiral reiterated Beijing has no intention of accepting a UN resolution over what nations hold territorial controls over what part of the South China Sea, instead insisting China had an ‘ancient right’ to occupy it all.

‘PATH OF PEACE’

Pentagon chief Carter also said Saturday that Beijing risks building a “Great Wall of self-isolation” with its military expansion in the contested waters.

But he also proposed stronger bilateral security co-operation with China to reduce the risks of a mishap.

Admiral Sun today repeated China’s pledges to seek a peaceful solution but accused Washington of a “Cold War” mentality.

"China's construction activities are mainly for civilian purposes and nobody has the right to point fingers": Adm. Sun | #SLD16 — IISS News (@IISS_org) June 5, 2016

“I reiterate that our policy on the South China Sea remains unchanged. China has wisdom and the patience to resolve the disputes through peaceful negotiations. We also believe other countries concerned have the same wisdom and the patience to walk on the path of peace along with China,” he said.

“Any countries not directly concerned are not allowed to sabotage our path of peace for selfish gains,” Sun told the annual security forum known as the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Rhetoric has escalated ahead of a ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague on a case brought by the Philippines against China, which has shunned the proceedings and says it will not recognise any ruling.

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Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post has reported that China plans to establish an outpost on Scarborough Shoal, located 230 kilometres (140 miles) off the Philippines, which considers it part of its exclusive economic zone.

After natural oil and gas found in SCS, Philippines was the first to invade but at the time we couldn't respond: ADM Sun #SLD16 — Natalie Sambhi (@SecurityScholar) June 5, 2016

Beijing claims nearly all of the strategically vital sea and has developed contested reefs into artificial islands, some topped with airstrips.

Manila says China took effective control of Scarborough Shoal in 2012, stationing patrol vessels and shooing away Filipino fishermen, after a two-month stand-off with the Philippine Navy.

Carter declined to elaborate when pressed on Saturday over what “actions” Washington might take

KERRY WARNS OVER AIR DEFENCE ZONE

US Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States would consider any Chinese air defence zone over the South China Sea to be a “provocative and destabilising act”.

US officials have expressed concern that an international court ruling expected in coming weeks on a case brought by the Philippines against China over its South China Sea claims could prompt Beijing to declare an air defence identification zone, or ADIZ, as it did over the East China Sea in 2013.

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“We would consider an ADIZ ... over portions of the South China Sea as a provocative and destabilising act which would automatically raise tensions and call into serious question China’s commitment to diplomatically manage the territorial disputes of the South China Sea,” Kerry said during a visit to Mongolia.

Adm Sun: “Nobody has the right to point fingers at China” on S. China Sea dispute. #SLD16 pic.twitter.com/v8Xs8QvQbZ — Steve Herman (@W7VOA) June 5, 2016

“So we urge China not to move unilaterally in ways that are provocative.” Kerry will visit China after Mongolia.

China drew condemnation from Japan and the United States when it imposed its ADIZ, in which aircraft are supposed to identify themselves to Chinese authorities, above the East China Sea. China has neither confirmed nor denied it plans such a zone for the South China Sea, saying that such a decision would be based on the threat level and that it had every right to set one up.

China claims most of the South China Sea through which trillions of dollars in ship-borne trade passes every year and has been undertaking extensive reclamation and construction activities on islands and reefs it occupies.

Neighbours Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.