China voiced its opposition Tuesday to freedom of navigation patrols in the South China Sea by foreign countries that it says threaten its sovereignty — the first official comments by Beijing since a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier strike group began patrols in the strategic waterway.
"China always respects the freedom of navigation and overflight that countries enjoy in the South China Sea under international law. But we oppose relevant countries threatening and undermining the sovereignty and security of coastal states under the pretext of such freedom," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said told a news briefing accoring to the ministry's website. "We hope that relevant countries can do more for regional peace and stability."
The U.S. Navy's Carrier Strike Group 1, which includes the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, began what the navy called "routine operations" in the South China Sea on Saturday.