China will not allow chaos and war to break out on the Korean peninsula, which would be to no one's advantage, Chinese President Xi Jinping told a group of Asian foreign ministers Thursday.

China is North Korea's sole major ally but it disapproves of its development of nuclear weapons and backed harsh new U.N. sanctions imposed last month.

China has long called for the Korean peninsula to be free of nuclear weapons.

Xi also told the meeting China would safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, while at the same time maintaining its sovereignty and rights there.

Chinese officials say the United States is pushing militarization and endangering stability with "freedom of navigation" operations by its military ships and aircraft in the South and East China seas.

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