BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday urged the United States to show respect for other countries' sovereignty and security.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the statement at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on an annual freedom of navigation report released by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) on April 25.
According to the DoD Freedom of Navigation Report for the Fiscal Year 2015, the U.S. military conducted "freedom of navigation" operations against 13 countries and regions last year, including China, India and Indonesia.
The DoD said on its website that these operations aimed to preserve the rights, freedoms, and lawful use of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations under international law.
U.S. freedom of navigation operations last year challenged China's claims of jurisdiction over airspace above the Exclusive Economic Zone(EEZ) and restrictions on foreign aircraft flying through an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea, according to the report.
"We have taken note of the U.S. report," said Hua, adding that the aim of the DoD freedom of navigation program was, in essence, to advance the U.S. unilateral proposition by force and coercion, by brandishing its naval and air power.
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