China asks other countries not to create tension in South China Sea

China on Friday asked other countries not to "create dissension" among countries and "create tension" in the South China Sea area.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a regular news briefing that "countries outside this region should respect efforts made by countries in the region to maintain peace and stability."

Her comment came after a senior US Navy officer expressed welcome to an extension of Japanese air patrols into the South China Sea as a counterweight to Chinese vessels.

The situation in the South China Sea is stable. China and the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have kept a good-neighborly relationship, Hua said.

"We have the will and ability to jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea region," she said.