AKIPRESS.COM - China has warned the U.S. that it will protect its sovereignty in the disputed waters of the South China Sea and rejects attempts to use international laws and freedom of navigation as a pretext to undermine its national security interests, reports RT.

In a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama at the fourth Nuclear Security Summit in Washington D.C., his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping said that while he believes in the peaceful resolution of conflicts through direct talks, China will take steps to protect its national interests and sovereignty.

“China will firmly safeguard the sovereignty and related rights in the South China Sea,” Xi said in a meeting.

While acknowledging that Beijing “respects and safeguards the freedom of navigation and overflight other countries are entitled to under international law,” Xi stressed that China will “not accept any freedom of navigation as an excuse to undermine China's sovereignty and national security interests.”

The U.S. has been taking steps to counter China’s growing influence in the region and has increased its regular naval patrols in the South China Sea as part of “freedom of navigation” drills near the disputed islands chain. Washington has also increased air surveillance in addition to stepping up U.S.-led war games with its Asian allies. In response China deployed its surface-to-air missile systems on Woody Island earlier this year, in addition to military aircraft.

Woody Island is the biggest island in the Paracel chain in the South China Sea. China laid claim to the island in the 1950s, but the rights to the area, which is at the heart of economically important shipping routes in the South China Sea, are being contested by Taiwan, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam.

In addition to perceived U.S. intrusion into the South China Sea affair, China is apprehensive about the installation of an advanced anti-missile Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system on the Korean peninsula.

According to Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang, during the meeting Xi told Obama that China was “firmly opposed” to the U.S.’ deployment of THAAD.

In February, the United States and South Korea agreed to start talks about deploying the THAAD system to counter the threat from North Korea which recently boasted about its growing nuclear capabilities. North Korea’s nuclear test on January 6 and a satellite launch on February 7 were violations of existing UN sanctions.

While no official decision has been made to place THAAD in South Korea, China has repeatedly over the past few months continued to stress that the US’ deployment of an anti-ballistic missile complex, designed to destroy short to intermediate-range ballistic missiles, could jeopardize its national security.

At the summit on Thursday Obama and Xi Jinping agreed to work together on the North Korean threat and have called for Pyongyang to give up its nuclear arsenal. China also agreed to implement in full the latest economic restrictions imposed by the Security Council against the North.

The two leaders also released joint statements vowing to improve nuclear security, implement a global climate change deal, and fight cyber security threats.