BEIJING. May 21 (Interfax-AVN) - Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu has described as irresponsible statements by a representative of the U.S. Pacific Fleet Command that the U.S and Chinese navies have allegedly divided the Pacific and Indian oceans into zones of operations.
"We have already made our position clear to the U.S. and India, and demanded that the corresponding sides disregard the irresponsible statements," the Chinese diplomat said.
The U.S. military official claimed during a visit to India that China had allegedly proposed that the U.S navy operate in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean and the Chinese navy in the western sector of the Pacific Ocean and in the Indian Ocean. To this Ma said, "The Chinese side has never asked and could not ask anyone to cite any 'proposals' on its behalf."
"China has been unswervingly abiding by a peaceful development course. It pursues an independent foreign and defense policies, and makes permanent efforts to maintain global peace and stability. It is the Chinese government's consistent and absolutely clear position," he said.