China urges U.S. to stop stirring up troubles on South China Sea issue

China on Tuesday urged the U.S. to stop stirring up troubles and creating tensions in regards to the South China Sea issue and to respect the regional countries' efforts to resolve the problem through negotiations.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang holds a regular press briefing on Tuesday, October 16, 2018. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

The remarks were made by Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang at a regular press briefing Tuesday, when responding to a query about the U.S. allegations that China is "militarizing" the South China Sea, and that a Chinese naval vessel carried out "reckless harassment" toward a U.S. vessel conducting the so-called "freedom of navigation operations" in the South China Sea recently.

"China has indisputable sovereignty over the islands in the South China Sea and their adjacent waters. China's peacebuilding activities in its own territory, including the deployment of necessary defense facilities, are to exercise the right of self-preservation and self-defense as a sovereign state in accordance with international law," Lu said. "These activities have nothing to do with 'militarization.'"

There is no problem with the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea. But the U.S. side, under the pretext of "navigation and overflight freedom," has frequently sent warships and warplanes into waters near China's islands and reefs in the South China Sea, said Lu. "This is creating tensions and conducting 'militarization.'"

"The U.S. naval vessel traveled such a long distance to China's doorstep to create a disturbance and accused China of 'reckless harassment.' Isn't this logic ridiculous?"

"We urge the U.S. to stop harming China's sovereignty and security interests, and be a constructor of peace and stability in South China Sea rather than a saboteur," said the spokesperson.