US Vice-President Kamala Harris holds a news conference before departing Vietnam for the United States following her first official visit to Asia in Hanoi, Vietnam on Aug 26, 2021. (EVELYN HOCKSTEIN / POOL PHOTO VIA AP)
HANOI – The Chinese Embassy in Vietnam on Thursday released a statement refuting US Vice-President Kamala Harris' verbal attacks on China during her visit to Vietnam.
The US disregarded the history and truth about the South China Sea issue, ignored the joint efforts of China and Southeast Asian countries to preserve the peace and stability in the South China Sea, and fabricated the so-called "Chinese threats" in the region
ALSO READ: Beijing hits back at Harris' smearing
The United States disregarded the history and truth about the South China Sea issue, ignored the joint efforts of China and Southeast Asian countries to preserve the peace and stability in the South China Sea, and fabricated the so-called "Chinese threats" in the region, which also made it clear that Washington's real target is the freedom for its warships to run wild in the South China Sea, according to the statement.
"The United States is the real enforcer behind the militarization of the South China Sea and the real manipulator of coercion and bullying," it said.
China is confident in working with Southeast Asian countries to handle and control differences via dialogues and negotiations and carry out cooperation based on mutual respect to protect the peace and stability of the South China Sea, according to the statement.
READ MORE: Harris arrives in Singapore, kicking off Southeast Asia visit
Southeast Asian countries will not play to the United States' baton and will not hop onto the United States' anti-China bandwagon, the statement added.
Harris visited Vietnam from Tuesday to Thursday after an official visit to Singapore.