Off the wire
• 1st LD: DPRK capable to fire nuclear missile at "anytime": DPRK ambassador  • China's memorial events on WWII not aimed at Japan, says diplomat  • Taiwan export orders fall 2.7 pct in February  • Armed conflict in S. Philippines displaces 132,000 people  • Roundup: Japan marks 20th anniversary of cult's deadly sarin attack on Tokyo subway  • Urgent: DPRK capable to fire nuclear missile "anytime": DPRK ambassador  • 2nd LD: 55 killed in two suicide bombings on mosques in Yemen's capital  • Indian stocks close at 5-week low  • 2nd LD Writethru: 2 killed, 7 injured in Pakistan Karachi's mosque blast  • Dynamo Kiev advances to UEFA Europa League quarterfinals  
You are here: 　 Home

China rebukes U.S. official over maritime patrol proposal

Xinhua, March 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

China on Friday rebuked a U.S. navy officer over his suggestions that the Southeast Asian nations should jointly build a maritime force to patrol areas of contested sovereignty in the South China Sea and that his fleet would provide support.

"We hope the United States will strictly honor its commitment of not taking positions or sides on territorial sovereignty issues," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei in response to the reported remarks by Robert Thomas, commander of the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet.

Hong said Thomas' remarks "will by no means help resolve the South China Sea disputes properly or contribute to peace and stability in the South China Sea".

He said that it is China's long-standing commitment to resolve the disputes in the South China Sea through negotiations and consultations with the countries directly concerned.

According to the spokesperson, China and the ASEAN have proposed a joint initiative in which they will safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea independently of other nations.

He urged the U.S. side not to make irresponsible remarks any longer and instead do more that are conducive to boosting mutual trust and regional peace and stability. Endi