Conflict with China not inevitable: US officials

US official Kin Moy said the rules-based international order that the US helped construct had a big part to play in China's growth. - AFP

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Senior United States officials stressed during a panel discussion on Tuesday (Aug 24) that US-China conflict is not inevitable, and the US' intent is not to ask countries to choose sides.

The discussion followed a speech in which US Vice-President Kamala Harris said China continues to "coerce" and "intimidate" over its claims to the South China Sea.