Naval chiefs from China and the United States are set to hold their first face-to-face meeting since the July 12 ruling on the arbitration case brought by the Philippines, which has intensified tensions in the South China Sea.

US Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson was to start his first visit to China from Sunday to Wednesday, during which he will meet with Admiral Wu Shengli, commander of the Chinese navy, according to a US Navy news release on July 14.

Washington has been pressing Beijing to accept the arbitration ruling by The Hague that challenges China's sovereignty in the South China Sea. Meanwhile, the Chinese navy has conducted drills near Xisha Islands in the sea this month.