Kerry voices concern to China over island-building drive

US Secretary of State John Kerry voiced concern to China on Wednesday over its land reclamation in the South China Sea and the "militarisation" of its disputed waters.

Kerry raised the issues during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of a regional diplomatic gathering in Malaysia that has been dominated by tensions over China's moves to shore up its territorial claims.

"Secretary Kerry reiterated his concern about rising tensions over disputed claims in the South China Sea and China's large-scale reclamation, construction, and militarisation of features there," a senior State Department official told reporters.

"He encouraged China, along with the other claimants, to halt problematic actions in order to create space for diplomacy."

China has sparked alarm in the region by expanding tiny reefs in the flashpoint sea and constructing military posts on them.

The United States and Southeast Asian countries have called for a halt to such activities, but China has refused.

A day earlier, Southeast Asian foreign ministers warned after they met in Kuala Lumpur that China's moves were raising regional tensions, with the Philippines slamming Beijing's "unilateral and aggressive activities".

The annual gathering is hosted by the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and includes countries from across Asia, the United States, Russia and elsewhere. It continues until Thursday.