A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman has urged the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) not to take sides in the South China Sea row, which he said was stoked by Vietnamese provocations.
Hong Lei made the remarks at a daily news briefing on Monday, when commenting on the ASEAN secretary-general Le Luong Minh's recent words concerning the matter, which China is strongly dissatisfied with and opposed to.
Le Luong Minh claimed that China has encroached upon Vietnam's territorial integrity, and violated the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.
Hong said the current dispute is not a matter between China and the ASEAN. However, Le has taken sides to advocate a certain country's claims, sending out wrong signals, regardless of facts or ASEAN's position, he said.
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