China has sent a veiled warning to the United States to stay out of the South China Sea dispute.

Speaking after talks with rival nations at a summit in Laos, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said that Beijing wants to work with other claimant countries to end interference in the contested maritime region.

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However, United States President Barack Obama responded to Li's remarks by warning that Beijing must abide by an international tribunal ruling that dismissed China's broad claim to the disputed South China Sea as having no legal basis.

"The landmark ruling in July, which is binding, helped clarify maritime rights in the region,"  Obama said during a summit of Association of Southeast Asian (ASEAN) leaders.

Beijing, however, has vowed to ignore the verdict.

Obama said that he recognizes that the ruling raises tensions, but added that he looks forward to discussing how the concerned parties can constructively move forward to lower tensions while promoting democracy and stability.

China's Premier Li insisted that with joint efforts from ASEAN members, the situation was moving in a more positive direction.

Hours before the meeting, the Philippines defense ministry released photos and a map showing that there was an increase in the number of Chinese sea vessels near the Scarborough Shoal, which was seized by Beijing in 2012.

Beijing is laying claims to a large portion of the South China Sea. Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines have competing stakes in the disputed region.

More than $5 trillion worth of trade passes through the disputed South China Sea annually.

Tagschina, South China Sea