Beijing

CHINA on Monday welcomed US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis's suggestion that diplomacy should be the priority in the South China Sea, and that major US military action was not being considered to contend with China's assertive behaviour there.

Mr Mattis, speaking in Tokyo on Saturday, blamed China for "shredding the trust of nations in the region", but also played down any need for US military manoeuvres in the disputed waters of the South China Sea and instead called for open lines of communication.