China on Wednesday expressed its displeasure over reference in the India-US joint statement to tension in the South China Sea, saying no third party had the right to interfere in the region.

China is locked in disputes with several of its maritime neighbours in the South China Sea over the ownership of islands and it is highly sensitive to any mention about the freedom of navigation in those waters. The India-US joint statement, which was issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Barack Obama in Washington on September 30, “expressed concern about rising tensions over maritime territorial disputes” and the need to ensure “freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, especially in the South China Sea”.

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Hong Lei, referred to the statement during a regular briefing on Wednesday, making the first statement on the issue.

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