China reacts to US report on the South China Sea.

On December 9, China criticized a US State Department report that refuted China's unilaterally stated nine-dash line in the South China Sea.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing on the afternoon of December 9, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei stated that China's sovereignty in the South China Sea and related claims to its interests were formed gradually over a long historical process, and that the Chinese government has always upheld those interests. The spokesperson also reiterated China's position on resolving sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiations, directly with the countries involved.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei (photo: FRTMC)

Hong Lei criticized the US report as being unfounded, lacking a firm stance on the South China Sea issue, breaking promises, and unhelpful in resolving disputes or promoting peace and stability in the region.

This is China's official response after the US State Department released a report refuting the nine-dash line, also known as the "cow tongue line," which China unilaterally claims in the South China Sea.

The US State Department report was released just one week before the deadline for the International Arbitration Tribunal to request China to submit its arguments in the case brought by the Philippines against Beijing's unreasonable sovereignty claims in the South China Sea. Furthermore, international opinion is increasingly critical of China's actions aimed at monopolizing the South China Sea.

According to VOV