China hits back at US over bullying tag

China said the United States is the one that has the “largest size and muscle in the world,” in response to US President Barack Obama’s expression of concern that China was using “sheer size and muscle” to push around smaller nations like the Philippines that have claims in the South China Sea.

“Speaking of size and mus- cle, I believe everyone knows well who has the largest size and muscle in the world,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said in

a press conference in Beijing on Friday.

Obama made the statement after Beijing defended its creation of artificial islands in the contested waterway. China said its “normal” maintenance and construction work on islands and reefs in the South China Sea does not impact or target any country.

China’s rapid reclamation around seven reefs in the Spratly archipelago has alarmed other claimants such as the Philippines and Vietnam, and drawn criticism from US officials and military.

Obama said the disputes can be solved diplomatically, “but just because the Philippines or Vietnam are not as large as China doesn’t mean that they can just be elbowed aside.”

But Hua maintained that China firmly upholds and promotes peace and stability in the disputed waters.

Hua said China and ASEAN countries are in positive and effective communication to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and advance the negotiation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC).

“It is hoped that the American side would respect the efforts made by China and ASEAN countries and play a positive, constructive and responsible role for regional peace and stability,” Hua added.

But China has still rejected the multilateral approach to resolving the disputes.

China was also criticized for lack of transparency and intended strategic purpose in its defense spending increases. Beijing defended the growth of their military budget, saying it is necessary to protect China’s interest, sovereignty and border.

A US think tank pointed out that the lack of official transparency in the budget and China’s intended strategic purpose were seen as worrying with the increasing assertiveness of China in the region as reflected in the incident around the Senkaku Islands and around the disputed Spratly Islands.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday that the Chinese government has been carrying out maintenance and construction work on some of the garrisoned Spratly islands and reefs.