Beijing says new South China Sea report by US is misleading, distorts international law

China's expansive claims in the South China Sea are disputed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan which have competing claims. - Reuters

BEIJING (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): Beijing has hit back at a new United States report that says its maritime claims in the South China Sea are "unlawful", calling it misleading and a distortion of international law.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a daily press briefing that the study, released on Wednesday (Jan 12) by the US State Department's Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, "distorts international law, misleads the public, sows discord and disrupts the regional situation".