TOKYO—US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel on Sunday warned China against unilateral action to resolve a territorial dispute with Japan or other Asian countries, drawing a parallel with Russia’s incursion in Ukraine.

“All nations deserve respect, no matter how large or how small,” Hagel said during a visit to Tokyo.

“I think we’re seeing some clear evidence of a lack of respect, and coercion and intimidation with … what the Russians have done in Ukraine,” he told a joint news conference with his Japanese counterpart, Itsunori Onodera.

Countries had to speak up and clearly reject such a blatant violation of international law, said Hagel, referring to Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.

And in a veiled reference to China and its territorial arguments with neighbours, Hagel said smaller countries had the same sovereign rights as larger states.

Read more: http://manilastandardtoday.com/2014/04/07/us-warns-china-over-territorial-claims/