Clinton urges China sea resolution 'without coercion'

JAKARTA (AFP) - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Monday called on China and South-east Asian nations to avoid "coercion" and work together on a code to manage disputes in the South China Sea.

Mrs Clinton, meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa in Jakarta, repeated her view that the United States had a "national interest" in ensuring peace and stability in the tension-filled South China Sea.

"We believe the nations of the region should work collaboratively together to resolve disputes without coercion, without intimidation, without threats and certainly without the use of force," Mrs Clinton said.

Mrs Clinton, who heads to Beijing on Tuesday, urged the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) and China to make "meaningful progress" toward a code of conduct and voiced hope that they would make headway before an Asia summit in Cambodia in November.