Beijing ( CNN ) -- China Tuesday blamed its neighbors for escalating tensions in the South China Sea , one day after the Vietnamese navy held a live-fire drill in disputed waters . `` Some countries took unilateral actions to impair China 's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests , released groundless and irresponsible remarks with the attempt to expand and complicate the disputes , '' said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a regular press briefing . Beijing and Hanoi have exchanged increasingly heated words in recent weeks , accusing each other of territorial intrusions in the South China Sea , which is claimed in whole or in part by China , Vietnam , the Philippines , Malaysia , Brunei and Taiwan . The vast area of waters , dotted with partially submerged atolls and reefs , contain some of the world 's busiest shipping lanes and are thought to hold large deposits of oil and natural gas . Hanoi authorities have announced a few recent incidents , charging that Chinese ships last week intentionally severed electric cables on Vietnamese survey vessels in Vietnamese waters . Beijing has countered that Vietnamese vessels have been illegally surveying in Chinese waters and harassing Chinese fishing boats . Computer hackers from both sides have also attacked websites in the other country , posting nationalistic images and messages , according to Chinese media reports . Although tensions flare up periodically among the various claimants of the disputed waters , the current situation is drawing more international attention amid China 's fast-growing political and military power . The United States officially stays neutral in the disputes , despite some Congressional calls for a more forceful stance to balance China 's clout . Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , however , has expressed Washington 's willingness to facilitate multilateral talks on the issue . `` The United States has a national interest in freedom of navigation , open access to Asia 's maritime commons and respect for international law in the South China Sea , '' she said last July at a regional security meeting in Hanoi . Chinese analysts see the United States using the South China Sea issue as a new way to contain China 's rise . `` The United States used to have Taiwan as its main bargaining chip in the region , '' said Zhang Xizhen , a professor of Southeast Asian studies at Peking University . `` Now that tensions across the Taiwan Strait have calmed down , they are turning to the South China Sea . '' `` Although the U.S. claimed neutrality on the issue , if conflicts arise in the area , they may use it as an excuse to intervene , '' he added . The Beijing leadership balks at any notion of `` internationalizing '' the dispute , in sharp contrast to a recent comment by Vietnamese officials welcoming foreign involvement . `` China always maintains that countries directly related to the issue should conduct bilateral negotiations and friendly consultations , '' Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong said . `` China is trying to safeguard its own legitimate rights and interests , not infringing on other countries ' rights , '' he added . `` Justice lies in the heart of the people . ''
China and Vietnam are at odds over the Taiwan Strait . Six countries claim the sea in whole or in part . Vietnam says it is neutral but has offered to mediate . The United States rejects foreign intervention , but The United States has welcomed it .