The United States faced off with China during the Shangri-La Dialogue or Asia Security Summit, Asia's biggest security forum hosted by Singapore on Saturday.

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel took to the floor and accused Beijing of destabilizing the Asian region for Beijing's actions over Asia's highly volatile territorial disputes.

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"In recent months, China has undertaken destabilizing, unilateral actions asserting its claims in the South China Sea," Hagel said in his speech.

Hagel warned and reminded Beijing of the U.S. commitment to its allies and to rebalance Asia's geopolitical status. He said that the U.S. "will not look the other way when fundamental principles of the international order are being challenged."

However, Hagel said the U.S. is not taking any sides regarding the territorial claims being disputed by China and its neighbors, but maintained that the U.S. firmly opposes any country that would intimidate, threaten and coerce its neighbors just to assert its claims.

China has been claiming territories in the South China Seas majority of which are rich in oil and gas. It has completely and consistently dismissed the claims of its Asian neighbors, which include the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Also, it has been exchanging harsh tones with Japan over a group of islands in the East China Sea.

Hagel's speech delivered at the Dialogue provoked Lieutenant-General Wang Guanzhong, deputy chief of staff of the Chinese Army, and said that the speech was intended to cause trouble in the Asia-Pacific region.

Wang said that he felt Hagel's speech is hegemonistic that is full of intimidation and threat.

Afterwards, the two met in a bilateral meeting where Wang told the U.S. defense secretary that he was surprised with the content of the American's speech.

Wang pointed Hagel's candor, but reminded the U.S. defense secretary that his criticisms of China are without basis.

A senior U.S. official with Hagel described the bilateral meeting to be businesslike and fairly friendly. The official said the meeting primarily talked about the military relations between the U.S. and China, which includes China's participation in a planned military exercised.

TagsUS Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, US-China relations, Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia Security Summit