White House - disputes over South China Sea must not involve 'bullying'

An aerial view shows the Pagasa (Hope) Island, part of the disputed Spratly group of islands, in the South China Sea located off the coast of western Philippines July 20, 2011. REUTERS/Rolex Dela Pena/Pool

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Tuesday that President Barack Obama would deliver a tough message to China during a summit with Southeast Asian countries next week that disputes over the South China Sea must be resolved through global rules and not through "bullying."

White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes told reporters on a conference call that disputes over the area must be handled in a way that is consistent with international norms and not by larger nations bullying smaller ones.