Chinese FM slams 'false narratives' of joint statement issued by Philippines, Australia, Japan and U.S.

(ECNS) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning on Thursday slammed that certain countries are peddling false narratives on maritime issues and making groundless accusations against China.

"China strongly deplores and firmly opposes it," Mao made the remarks at a press conference in response to a question regarding a recent joint statement issued by the defense ministers of the Philippines, Australia, Japan and the U.S. claiming "serious concern" regarding China's actions in the East China Sea and South China Sea and the so-called 2016 South China Sea arbitration award.

The spokesperson stressed that the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea is generally stable. Relevant sides need to respect the efforts of regional countries to handle maritime issues properly through dialogue and consultation and maintain peace and stability, and stop using maritime issues to sow discord and heighten tensions.

The "South China Sea arbitration" is nothing but a political farce masqueraded as a legal process and aimed at destabilizing the South China Sea for selfish gains, Mao said.

The so-called "award" is illegal, null and void, and is not binding and China has never accepted or recognized it from the outset, the spokesperson added.

(By Zhang Dongfang)