Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has warned ASEAN members not to let themselves be used as "chess pieces" by major powers. Wang was apparently referring to moves by the United States to keep China in check.

Wang spoke Monday at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Secretariat in Jakarta. He stressed China and ASEAN must avoid geopolitical conflicts in Asia. But he suggested tensions are sparked by Washington and its allies, not by Beijing.

Wang said," We should insulate this region from geopolitical calculations and the trap of the law of the jungle, from countries being used as chess pieces in major power rivalry, and from coercion by hegemony and bullying."

He added, "Our future, and the future of our region, should be in our own hands."

Wang's comment comes days after he attended a Group of 20 foreign ministers meeting in Bali, Indonesia. The minister is on a whistle-stop tour of Southeast Asia.

China is thought to be unhappy with diplomatic efforts by the US and its allies -- including Japan -- especially after they launched talks on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, or IPEF.

On Sunday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed the role of the IPEF in countering China's influence in the Indo-Pacific.

Blinken visited Bangkok after the G20 meeting for talks with Thai officials. The US and Thailand agreed to shore up their supply chains through the IPEF. Blinken thanked Thailand for its partnership in launching the framework.