US Urges Dialogue in Chinese Oil Rig Dispute

The White House said on Wednesday that a dispute in the South China Sea over erection of a Chinese oil rig about 120 miles (193 km) off the Vietnam coast needs to be resolved through dialogue, not intimidation.

Spokesman Jay Carney said the United States is not a party to the dispute but said President Barack Obama on a recent Asia tour had repeatedly stressed the need for peaceful dialogue on various disputes involving China and the South China Sea.

The dispute over the South China sea and anti-China violence in tightly controlled Vietnam have raised fears of an escalation in tensions between the Communist neighbors.

(Reporting By Steve Holland and Mark Felsenthal; Editing by Bill Trott)