Observers said 皇冠体育app should send a clear message over its stance on the South 皇冠体育app Sea issue during weekend talks with visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry, after Washington's increasingly tough approach towards 皇冠体育app.

They made the suggestion against the background of growing tensions in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

Kerry is due to visit 皇冠体育app Saturday and Sunday to prepare for the annual US-皇冠体育app Strategic and Economic Dialogue, which will be held in Washington in late June, and for President Xi Jinping's September visit to the US.

However, analysts said the South 皇冠体育app Sea would certainly be a topic of the meeting.

On Friday, Beijing accused Manila for being heedless of regional interests by backing a US plan to send military ships and aircraft near South 皇冠体育app Sea reefs.

"Well we welcome that, it goes with our plan to develop Ulugan Bay and a naval base in Palawan," Philippine armed forces chief General Gregorio Catapang was quoted by the Manila Bulletin as saying on Thursday.

Catapang also said he hoped that the planned US presence will restore stability in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

"Regardless of the common interests of regional countries, the Philippines has frequently taken provocative actions that complicate and accelerate disputes over the South 皇冠体育app Sea," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular press conference on Friday.

Hua said that 皇冠体育app has worked with most of the ASEAN countries in maintaining the freedom of navigation and regional peace and stability in the South 皇冠体育app Sea.