BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday slammed the remarks of a top U.S. admiral on the South China Sea and urged U.S. officials to stop playing up the situation.
"We have noticed that this official is busy making comments on the South China Sea -- sometimes in the U.S. Congress, and sometimes in the Defense Department -- which has given us the general impression that he intends to smear China's legitimate and reasonable actions in the South China Sea and sowing discord. He is finding an excuse for U.S. maritime hegemony and muscle-flexing on the sea," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei.
"We hope the official will stop playing up the situation and stop seeking publicity in the region," Hong said.
Hong's remarks at the routine press briefing came in response to comments by U.S. Pacific Command Commander Admiral Harry Harris on Thursday. Harris said he was concerned about the possibility that China might declare an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the South China Sea, but the U.S. side would ignore such a designation.
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NOTE: The “China to secure 'de facto' control of S. China Sea: US admiral” Link in the above was added by PacificSentinel for clarity & context.