China: The US statement disregards the historical merits of the South China Sea.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced the US State Department's statement on the fifth anniversary of the so-called arbitral tribunal ruling on the South China Sea, accusing Beijing of "restricting the navigation rights, freedoms, and lawful uses of the South China Sea."

In a statement, the Chinese Ministry stressed that “The US statement disregards the historical merits and objective facts of the South China Sea issue, violates and distorts international law, and breaks the US government's long-held public commitment of not taking a position on the South China Sea sovereignty issue."

The statement went on to say that "The US deliberately stokes disputes on territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, sows discord among regional countries, and undermines regional peace and stability."

“This is extremely irresponsible. China is strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes this action from the US,” the statement added.

The Biden administration on Sunday upheld a Trump-era rejection of nearly all of China’s significant maritime rights in the South China Sea.

The Chinese Navy urged a US destroyer to leave a disputed area in the South China Sea on February 5, 2021, in an unprecedented incident between the two countries since Biden's inauguration as President of the United States of America.