EMPTY VESSELS'S SOUND

The White House on Friday stepped up criticism of China's deployment of an oil rig in the South China Sea, saying the move had complicated relations in the region and made peaceful resolution of territorial disputes more difficult.

"This is a provocative act, and it raises tensions in the region," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

China and Vietnam are locked in a dispute over contested waters that both claim as part of their territory. The standoff, which escalated after a state-run Chinese oil company positioned an oil rig in the area, has sparked riots in Vietnam and raised fears of a military conflict.

The U.S. hasn't taken a position on the nations' competing sovereignty claims in the region, Mr. Carney said, but said no country should resort to intimidation and threats.

"We're very concerned about dangerous conduct and intimidation by government-controlled assets operating in this area, and we call on all parties to conduct themselves in a safe and professional manner to preserve freedom of navigation and overflight, to exercise restraint, to take steps to lower tensions and to address competing sovereignty claims peacefully and in accordance with international law," Mr. Carney said.

wsj.com