Vietnam lukewarm to US offer

China urges parties to increase regional trust and promote peace

The Pentagon chief's call for an end to all construction work on South China Sea islands did not receive a clear endorsement from Hanoi on Monday despite closer US-Vietnam military cooperation and simmering maritime tensions in the region.

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter discussed his proposal in talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, General Phung Quang Thanh, making a direct plea after earlier calling on all countries involved to immediately halt construction work on the islands.