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| Fiery Cross Reef/Island in the South China Sea |
KINGSTON, Jamaica — US President Barack Obama warned Thursday that China shouldn't "elbow aside" countries it is in conflict with in the South China Sea, where the United States has sounded an alarm over Chinese construction on disputed islands.
Speaking from a town hall meeting while on a visit to Jamaica, Obama warned against aggressive acts by China while at the same time welcoming its strong economy and global reach.
"Where we get concerned with China is where it is not necessarily abiding by international norms and rules and is using its sheer size and muscle to force countries into subordinate positions, and that is the concern we have around maritime issues," Obama said responding to a question about the South China Sea.
"Just because the Philippines or Vietnam are not as large as China doesn't mean that they can just be elbowed aside."
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