这张卫星图像显示了中国南沙群岛的永树礁。[照片/新华社]中国外交部发言人周五表示，中国坚决反对以“航行和飞越自由”为名破坏南海沿岸国家主权和安全利益的行为。外交部发言人华春英在新闻发布会上回答了美国副总统彭斯（Mike Pence）最近关于南海“不属于任何一个国家，美国将继续在国际法允许的任何地方航行和飞行”的一个问题时的讲话。我们早就说过，航行自由华说，在南中国海的航行和飞越从来没有遇到过任何问题，“到目前为止，还没有任何国家提供任何证据证明南中国海的航行或飞越自由存在问题。”“可以看出，所谓的航行自由问题是不存在的，”华说。中国的立场非常明确。她说：“中方愿同其他地区国家一道，坚定保证各国在国际法下享有航行和飞越自由。”发言人说：“请允许我提醒美国相关人士，美国尚未批准《联合国海洋法公约》。如果美方早日批准并遵守《联合国海洋法公约》，那么我认为这将更有利于维护南中国海的和平与稳定，”她补充说。
This satellite image shows the Yongshu Reef of China's Nansha Islands. [Photo/Xinhua]

China firmly opposes those actions under the pretext of "freedom of navigation and overflight" to undermine the sovereignty and security interests of littoral countries along the South China Sea, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Friday.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a news briefing when answering a question related to US Vice President Mike Pence's recent comment that South China Sea "doesn't belong to any one nation, and the United States will continue to sail and fly wherever international law allows."

"We have long said that freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea has never encountered any problem," Hua said, adding that "up to now, no country had ever provided any evidence of problems with freedom of navigation or overflight in the South China Sea."

"It can be seen that the so-called issue of navigation freedom is non-existent," Hua said.

China's position is very clear. The Chinese side is willing to join hands with other regional countries to firmly ensure freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all countries under international law, she said.

"May I trouble you to remind the US relevant individual that the United States has yet to ratify the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS)," the spokesperson said.

"If the U.S. side can at an early date ratify and abide by UNCLOS, then I think this will benefit even more the protection of peace and stability in the South China Sea," she added.

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