China rejects 'irresponsible' U.S. remarks on South China Sea

PanARMENIAN.Net - China has expressed "firm opposition" to remarks made by U.S. Pentagon chief Jim Mattis during a regional defence summit over the weekend, after he criticised Beijing's "militarisation" of the South China Sea, AFP reports.

Washington has repeatedly expressed concerns that China's development of artificial islands in the region poses a threat to freedom of navigation through its waters, a major artery for international trade.

Competing claims to the sea, which is believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits, have for decades made it one of Asia's potential military flashpoints.

"The scope and effect of China's construction activities in the South China Sea differ from other countries in several key ways," Mattis noted, saying Beijing's "militarisation" and "disregard for international law" showed its "contempt" for other nations' interests.

In a statement late Sunday, June 4, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying called Mattis's comments "irresponsible" and accused "certain countries outside the region" of making "erroneous remarks driven by ulterior motives".

"China has indisputable sovereignty over the (Spratly) Islands and their adjacent waters," Hua said, referring to reefs and islets in the South China Sea where Beijing has built installations that could be used by its military.

Hua said China "respects and safeguards all countries' freedom of navigation and overflight" in the area "but definitely opposes certain country's show of force in the South China Sea under the pretext of navigation and overflight freedom, challenging and threatening China's sovereignty and security".