China has exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in waters east of the Taiwan island: FM

(ECNA) -- China has exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in waters east of the Taiwan island, and it is fully within China's sovereign rights and jurisdiction, therefore legitimate, lawful and beyond reproach, for China to carry out activities in these waters, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday.

Mao made the remarks when asked about the U.S. State Department's description of China's maritime activities off Taiwan's east coast as "deeply destabilizing."

Mao said that the party that instigates troubles and disrupts stability in this part of waters has never been the Chinese side.

Mao said that the Taiwan question is China's internal affair that brooks no external interference. "The U.S. needs to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, handle the Taiwan question prudently, and take concrete actions to uphold the overall China-U.S. relations and peace and stability in the region," he said.