US rejects China maritime claims, calls for Asean action on Myanmar (Update)

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. - AP

HANOI (Reuters): The United States rejects China's "unlawful" maritime claims in the South China Sea and stands with Southeast Asian countries facing Chinese "coercion", Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday (July 14).

China rejected Blinken's comments, which he made in an address in a video conference with foreign ministers from the Association of Southeast Nations (Asean), as irresponsible and aimed at provoking discord.