China has hit back at the US branding of Chinese pursuits in the South Chin’a Sea as illegal, saying that the accusation was “unjustified” and a bid to sabotage regional peace. In a statement, the Chinese embassy in Washington said, “We advise the US side to earnestly honour its commitment of not taking sides on the issue of territorial sovereignty, respect regional countries’ efforts for a peaceful and stable South China Sea and stop its attempts to disrupt and sabotage regional peace and stability.”

The comments from China were triggered after United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Beijing’s pursuit of resources in the dispute-rife South China Sea would be treated as illegal. In a statement he said, “We are making clear: Beijing’s claims to offshore resources across most of the South China Sea are completely unlawful, as is its campaign of bullying to control them.”

He had also disregarded China’s claims on the contested Spratly islands, where China earlier this year announced administrative districts, which would allow Beijing to expand its maritime claims. He said, “Any PRC action to harass other states’ fishing or hydrocarbon development in these waters – or to carry out such activities unilaterally – is unlawful.”