China Tuesday thanked countries for their support on the South China Sea issue.
Sierra Leone and Kenya recently announced their approval of China's stance. The number of countries that support China now amounts to 60.
"We appreciate these countries for their understanding of right and wrong and belief in fairness and justice," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said at a daily press briefing.
"The so-called South China Sea issue is an issue between China and littoral countries of the South China Sea," said Lu, adding that China has opposed the internationalization of the South China Sea issue from the very beginning.
Both the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and the "dual-track approach" recently offered by ASEAN advocate friendly and direct negotiation by the countries directly involved, Lu said.
"Following this path, freedom and security of navigation in the area have never been a problem," Lu said.
"Manipulation of public opinion cannot cover the truth," Lu said, stressing that international society will not be represented by seven or eight countries.
Lu said in recent years, certain countries have deliberately produced tension in the region for their own benefit.
"They incite individual countries in the region to break their promises. In the name of 'protecting rules', they are undermining rules and international law," Lu said.
