China has no intention to challenge intl rules and order: President Xi

China has no intention to challenge the present international rules and order and will never seek hegemony, President Xi Jinping said on Monday as he asked the US to effectively handle differences after an international tribunal struck down Beijing’s claim over the stragtegic South China Sea.

Xi’s comments came as China and the US held their first high level political and security dialogue here to discuss contentious issues bedevilling their relations.

Visiting Beijing for the first time after the July 12 tribunal verdict which struck down China’s claims of historic rights over the South Chia Sea (SCS), US National Security Advisor Susan Rice on the first day of her three day visit held extensive talks with top Chinese civil and military officials and called on President Xi.

Both sides avoided public references to the SCS verdict but called for proper handling of differences. In his meeting with Rice, Xi called on China and the US to effectively handle differences and respect each other’s core interests. The US wants China to implement the July 12 verdict of the tribunal appointed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration which Beijing outrightly rejected it saying it is illegal and null and void. The US has deployed its naval fleet and conducted periodic flights and naval patrols through the SCS to assert the freedom of navigation which was strongly objected by China which claims sovereignty over all most all of SCS.