Off the wire
• Didi Kuaidi, China Merchants Bank announce partnership  • Chinese nuclear firm named world's 5th largest  • Nearly 3 bln USD needed to assist children this year: UNICEF  • Tourism nights in EU peak at 2.8 bln in 2015  • Roundup: Afghan battle claims 38 lives including 10 police within day  • King's Cup quarter-final return legs to kick off in Spain  • Weather forecast for major Chinese cities, regions -- Jan. 26  • China-Latin America culture year to be launched in March  • Weather forecast for world cities -- Jan. 26  • China vows to advance strategic partnership with Laos  
You are here: 　 Home

China rejects U.S. criticism of South China Sea activities

Xinhua, January 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

China on Tuesday rejected U.S. criticism of China's reef construction in the South China Sea and urged the U.S. side to stop "groundless" accusations.

"China will never take such unreasonable criticism," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said when responding to a question at a regular news briefing.

She said China had repeatedly made clear the public service nature and legitimacy of reef construction and test flights at a newly built airport in the South China Sea.

Hua also urged the U.S. side to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, instead of sowing discord.

A U.S. official was quoted as telling the press that ASEAN hoped to unite to protect maritime rights and avoid conflict in the region.

Hua said she would not comment the official's remarks, as "the U.S. official is not the spokesperson of ASEAN."

"Maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region is in the interest of all nations in the region," Hua said. Endit