China News Agency, Manila, January 30th. On January 30th local time, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines answered reporters' questions on the remarks of US Secretary of State Blincol concerning the South China Sea.

The questions and answers are as follows:

  Q: US Secretary of State Blincoln said in a phone call with the Philippine Foreign Minister that the US rejects China’s claims in the South China Sea that go beyond the scope of international law and that the US will stand with Southeast Asian countries.

What is China's comment?

  A: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian responded to this issue as follows: China's sovereignty and rights and interests in the South China Sea were formed in a long historical process and conform to international law and practice.

China unswervingly safeguards its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, is unswervingly committed to peaceful settlement of disputes through negotiations and consultations with other directly involved countries, and unswervingly committed to jointly safeguarding peace and stability in the South China Sea with ASEAN countries.

We hope that countries outside the region will fully respect the efforts of China and regional countries to properly handle maritime conflicts and differences and maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea.

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