China demands US not to violate its sovereignty, criticizes US military patrols in South China Sea

 A top Chinese official on Friday demanded in high-level talks that the United States not violate the Asian power's sovereignty, criticizing US military patrols in the South China Sea and its comments on human rights.

"The Chinese side made it clear to the United States that it should stop sending its vessels and military aircraft close to Chinese islands and stop actions that undermine China's sovereignty and security interests," Yang Jiechi, a longtime architect of Chinese foreign policy, told a joint news conference after talks in Washington.

(With inputs from agencies.)