US top diplomat Blinken hits out at China's 'unlawful actions' in South China Sea

VIENTIANE, Laos — US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hit out at China's "escalatory and unlawful actions" in the South China Sea on Saturday, hours before he was due to hold talks with Beijing's top diplomat at a regional meeting in Laos.

Blinken is in capital Vientiane for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers meeting, part of an Asian tour aimed at reinforcing regional ties in the face of an increasingly assertive Beijing.

He has prioritized promoting a "free and open" Asia-Pacific region -- a thinly veiled criticism of China's regional economic, strategic and territorial ambitions.

The United States and ASEAN had to work together to "address challenges," Blinken told ministers from the 10-member bloc, including China's "escalatory and unlawful actions taken against the Philippines in the South China Sea over the last few months."

Manila is locked in a longstanding territorial row with Beijing over parts of the strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars worth of trade passes annually.

On Saturday, Manila said it had successfully resupplied troops on the Second Thomas Shoal -- the focus of violent clashes between Chinese and Philippines vessels in recent months.

The mission was carried out under a deal agreed with Beijing last week.

"We are pleased to take note of the successful resupply today," Blinken said.

"We applaud that and hope and expect to see that it continues going forward."

Blinken is due to meet China's Wang Yi later Saturday.

The two will "exchange views on issues of common concern", China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Friday.

This is Blinken's 18th visit to Asia since taking office more than three years ago, reflecting the fierce competition between Washington and Beijing in the region.

He notably arrives two days after the foreign ministers of China and Russia met with the 10-nation ASEAN bloc -- and each other on the sidelines of the summit.

Wang and Sergei Lavrov had discussed "building a new security architecture for Eurasia", according to Moscow's foreign ministry.

The pair also agreed to jointly "counter any attempts by extra-regional forces to interfere in Southeast Asian affairs",