China has called on the United States to immediately cease actions that escalate tensions in the South China Sea, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining regional peace through cooperation with Southeast Asian nations. The appeal came during a Monday press briefing by Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, who criticized recent U.S. statements regarding China's environmental plans for Huangyan Dao.
"The establishment of the Huangyan Dao national nature reserve falls entirely within China's sovereign rights," Lin stated, responding to remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio opposing the initiative. "We firmly reject unwarranted interference from external forces in matters that are inherently China's internal affairs."
The spokesperson highlighted that regional stability has been maintained through joint efforts between China and ASEAN countries, despite what he described as "repeated U.S. attempts to manipulate maritime disputes." Lin characterized the 2016 South China Sea arbitration case as "a political farce orchestrated under legal pretenses," reaffirming China's position that the ruling holds no legal validity.
ASEAN-China collaboration remains central to ongoing diplomatic efforts, with both sides working to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and advance negotiations for a formal code of conduct. "China will continue working with regional partners to transform the South China Sea into a zone of peace and cooperation," Lin concluded.
