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Obama raps Beijing over territorial claim in S. China Sea

PANAMA CITY, April 11 (PNA/Kyodo) -- U.S. President Barack Obama has criticized China for its activities in the South China Sea to claim a number of disputed islands by using force, drawing sharp reaction from Beijing.

"We think this can be solved diplomatically, but just because the Philippines or Vietnam are not as large as China doesn't mean that they can just be elbowed aside," Obama told a town-hall meeting with citizens in Jamaica on Thursday.

Obama said his administration is "concerned" with China as it is "not necessarily abiding by international norms and rules and is using its size and muscle to force countries into subordinate positions." (PNA/Kyodo)