The U.S. voiced concern Wednesday that China is gradually asserting control in the disputed South China Sea on the basis of vague territorial claims unsupported by international law.

Sharpening U.S. criticism of the rising Asian power, Daniel Russel, the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, described in congressional testimony a litany of actions by China that are raising tensions.

Russel said China has restricted access to a contested reef in the South China Sea; taken bids on areas far from its own shores for hydrocarbon exploration; and imposed fishing regulations in disputed waters.

“There is a growing concern that this pattern of behaviour in the South China Sea reflects an incremental effort by China to assert control over the area contained in the so-called ‘nine-dash line,’ despite the objections of its neighbours,” Russel said, referring to the map markings used by China to depict its maritime territorial claims.

Read more: http://chinadailymail.com/2014/02/06/us-tells-china-to-adjust-its-territorial-claims-in-the-south-china-sea-in-accordance-with-international-law-or-prove-the-claims/