"China holds indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters," foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said. "Freedom of navigation and the security of sea lanes in the South China Sea have never been problems and were not affected by dispute of the sea."

Admiral Robert Willard, the outgoing US military commander for the Asia-Pacific region, said Tuesday China has been entering fewer confrontations with its neighbors as he credited a firm line by Washington and its allies with changing Beijing's thinking.

"The US military must be present there to ensure the security of those sea lines of communication," he told the Senate Armed Services Committee, according to AFP.

Willard claimed that "very strong statements" by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former defense secretary Robert Gates likely made an impression on China.

The US irked China in 2010 when Clinton said Washington had an interest in preserving free shipping in the South China Sea.

Hong refuted Willard's comments, saying China's stance on the South China Sea is clear and consistent and it is meaningless to allege the hardening or softening of China's policy on the issue.

"The remarks by Willard were totally baseless. The stability in the South China Sea is attributed to China's responsible attitude in settling the dispute and its adherence to the principle of resorting to dialogue and negotiation," Su Hao, director of the Asia-Pacific Research Center at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times, noting that China reached consensus with the ASEAN nations last year in implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

"Washington has been adjusting its global strategy with the shift of its military focus on East Asia. Willard's comments were aimed at making up excuses for further US involvement in the South China Sea by stirring up tensions in the region," he said.

"Actually, previous confrontations in the South China Sea were results of the US inciting of some nations, but countries in the region are aware that more confrontations are not in their interests and only serve the interests of the US," Su added.

Global Times - Agencies