China on Sunday hit out at US "provocations" and said it does not fear "trouble" over its territorial disputes with neighbours in the South China Sea.

"Countries outside should play a constructive role in this regard, not the other way around. The South China Sea issue has become overheated because of the provocations of certain countries for their own selfish interests," Admiral Sun Jianguo told a security summit in Singapore.

Sun spoke one day after US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter warned that Chinese construction on a South China Sea islet claimed by the Philippines would prompt "actions being taken" by the United States and other nations.

"We do not make trouble but we have no fear of trouble," the Chinese admiral said.