China urged the US to live up to its pledge of not taking sides on the South China Sea issue on Friday and reaffirmed that the US is not a party concerned in disputes in the region.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Lu Kang made the remarks while responding to a recent comment by Daniel Russell, assistant US secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs.
In his recent speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Russell implied that arbitration is the only practical means left for China and the Philippines to solve competing claims in the South China Sea. He also touched upon issues concerning entitlement of maritime features and jurisdiction of the arbitral tribunal.
Lu said Russell's comment is attempting to push forward the Philippines' unilateral move on arbitration of the South China Sea issue.
The US acts like an "arbitrator outside the tribunal," designating the direction for the arbitral tribunal established at the request of the Philippines, Lu said.
This is inconsistent with the stance the US claims to uphold on the South China Sea issue, Lu said, and he also urged the US not to undermine regional peace and stability.
Read the full story at Want China Times