U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has challenged parties in the South China Sea dispute to show legal proof of their territory claims.

Secretary Clinton on Saturday said China and several members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' claims must also be in line with an 1982 international of law of the sea.

On Friday, Clinton praised the parties involved for reaching a preliminary agreement on resolving the territorial disputes in the South China Sea.

The agreement aims to prevent conflict over several disputed islands and potential oil and gas resources. Washington has said peaceful resolution of the claims is in American national security interest.

China has been accused in recent months of trying to intimidate oil explorations by the Philippines and Vietnam in waters that are also claimed by Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia.