( CNN ) -- China blasted the United States on Saturday for its recent public criticism and urging of diplomacy to address territorial disputes in the South China Sea , saying the U.S. statement shows `` total disregard for the facts '' and sends `` a seriously wrong message . '' The blistering statement , from Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang , follows one issued the previous day by a counterpart at the U.S. State Department . The debate revolves around who controls islands and waters in the South China Sea . Countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines lay claim to some areas . Qin stated unequivocally Saturday that `` China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea and adjacent waters . '' Acting U.S. State Department deputy spokesman Patrick Ventrell began his statement Friday insisting the United States does `` not take a position on competing territorial claims ... and ( has ) no territorial ambitions in the South China Sea . '' Yet he added that Washington believes countries `` should work collaboratively and diplomatically to resolve disputes without coercion , without intimidation , without threats and without the use of force . '' Ventrell suggested that not all nations in the region are taking this latter approach , expressing U.S. concern about the `` increase in tensions in the South China Sea '' in the form of `` confrontational rhetoric , '' `` coercive economic actions and the incidents around the Scarborough Reef , including the use of barriers to deny access . '' `` In particular , China 's upgrading of the administrative level of Sansha City and establishment of a new military garrison there covering disputed areas of the South China Sea run counter to collaborative diplomatic efforts to resolve differences and risk further escalating tensions in the region , '' Ventrell said , before urging the nations involved to agree on ways to peacefully address disputes . Qin , the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman , started his statement -- which was posted on his ministry 's website -- by accusing the United States of confounding `` right and wrong '' and undermining regional efforts to `` uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea and the Asia-Pacific region at large . '' China 's action in Sansha City , specifically , is a `` necessary adjustment '' that falls `` well within China 's sovereign rights , '' the spokesman said . Qin accused other nations of not abiding by a 2002 agreement involving Association of Southeast Asian Nations , or ASEAN , members . The Chinese spokesman then singled out Washington for what he suggested was hypocrisy and `` unfounded accusations ... against China 's normal and reasonable acts . '' `` People can not but question the true intention of the U.S. side , '' Qin wrote . He challenged the United States for overlooking other nations `` marking out a large number of oil and gas blocks in the South China Sea '' and claiming `` as its own China 's islands , reefs and waters . '' Washington , too , has ignored it when other nation 's navies have threatened Chinese fishermen , Qin claimed . If the United States truly was n't taking positions on territorial disputes , then why did it speak up now and `` stir up trouble at a time when countries concerned in the region are stepping up dialogue ? '' he asked rhetorically . `` The United States needs to follow the trend of the times and respect the shared aspirations and consensus of countries in the region for peace , stability and development , '' Qin said . `` It should respect China 's sovereignty and territorial integrity , and act in a way that contributes to stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific and not otherwise . ''
The China issued a statement criticizing U.S. on the South China Sea territorial disputes . A Chinese spokesman responds by claiming the U.S. shows a `` total disregard for the facts '' The U.S. confounded `` right and wrong '' and undermined peace in the region , he adds . There are international disputes about who controls islands and waters in South China Sea .