A: The Chinese side has repeatedly elaborated on its principled position on the relevant issue. I'd like to underscore that the US chooses to be mute about a few countries' enduring construction on illegally occupied Chinese islands and reefs, but keeps talking improperly about China's lawful, justified and reasonable normal construction within its own sovereignty. If this is not a habitual application of double standard, then there must be hidden motives behind this. I want to reiterate that the size and pace of China's construction on relevant maritime features is commensurate with the international responsibilities and obligations undertaken by China as a major country. The Chinese people have their own judgment as for what to do. No one else has the right to tell China how to behave.
The South China Sea is generally stable. However, a few countries continuously make troubles in the area and provoke China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests at will in order to obtain selfish gains with the encouragement and instigation of some other people. This is the culprit of the chaos in the South China Sea. The US should think seriously about what kind of the Asia-Pacific does it really want to see? What role should it play in realizing peace and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific? Is it really in the interest of the US if chaos reigns in the Asia-Pacific which is the major driver of global economic growth? We urge the US side to think twice, take a genuinely responsible attitude, halt all provocative words and deeds and make positive and constructive efforts to safeguard regional peace and stability.