China urges relevant countries to stop fueling confrontation over the South China Sea

China urges relevant countries to stop hyping up tensions and fueling confrontation, and earnestly respect regional countries' efforts for peace and stability in the South China Sea, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks at a regular press briefing in response to a question on the Philippines' deliberate provocations and attacks on China Coast Guard law enforcement personnel at China's Ren'ai Jiao.

China has made its position clear on the Philippine personnel's malicious attack on Chinese law enforcement personnel, Lin said, adding that relevant countries turned a blind eye to the facts of the Philippines' infringement activities and provocations, made groundless accusations against China, and rehashed "the South China Sea Arbitral Award," which is illegal, null and void.

"China firmly opposes such actions," he said.

With the joint efforts of China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable, he noted.

The root cause of the tension at sea lies with the deliberate infringement activities and provocations of the Philippines, Lin said, stressing that relevant countries are not parties in the South China Sea and are in no position to interfere in the maritime issues between the countries concerned.

"Apparently, whenever something happens at sea, the same few countries immediately point their fingers at China regardless of who exactly is at fault. Are they trying to keep the South China Sea peaceful and stable, or simply to destabilize? I think the answer is quite clear," said the spokesperson.

China will continue to firmly safeguard its sovereignty, rights and interests in accordance with the law, properly handling maritime disputes with parties concerned through dialogue and consultation, work with ASEAN countries to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, and move forward consultations on a code of conduct in the South China Sea to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, said Lin.