China rejects US criticism of maritime activities east of Taiwan

China on Monday rejected US claims that its maritime activities east of Taiwan Island were "destabilizing", saying the activities fall within its sovereign rights and jurisdiction and are legitimate and lawful.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to a question about the US State Department's description of China's activities last week as "deeply destabilizing".

"China has repeatedly made its position clear," Mao said, noting that China has an exclusive economic zone and a continental shelf in the waters east of Taiwan.

Its activities there are entirely within the scope of its sovereign rights and jurisdiction and are beyond reproach, she added.

China has never been the side provoking trouble or undermining stability in those waters, Mao said.

The Taiwan question is China's internal affair and allows no external interference, she said, urging the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiques.

The US should handle the Taiwan question prudently and take concrete action to safeguard overall China-US relations and regional peace and stability, Mao added.