US reaffirms stance on South China Sea, urges Beijing to stop 'provocative behaviour'

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. - AFP

WASHINGTON, July 12 (Bernama): The United States is urging China to cease "provocative behaviour" and to respect international law when it comes to the South China Sea issue, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.

"The United States reaffirms its July 13, 2020 policy regarding maritime claims in the South China Sea. We also reaffirm that an armed attack on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or aircraft in the South China Sea would invoke US mutual defence commitments under Article IV of the 1951 US-Philippines Mutual Defence Treaty, " Sputnik reported Blinken as saying on Sunday.