China has criticised Australia and the US after it was urged to halt its artificial island building in the South China Sea.

A statement from the Chinese embassy in Canberra says the United States and Australia should not pick sides after the allies called on China to permit free ship movement and aircraft overflights near its outposts.

China says its actions in the South China Sea don’t target any one country and are beyond reproach, describing Australia’s comments as ‘neither responsible or constructive.’

The statement accused Australia and the US of double standards in their approach to China’s actions.

‘It would be more helpful if they could honour their commitment of not taking sides on relevant disputes and do more to promote regional peace and stability in the truest sense of the words rather than light a fire and add fuel to the flames,’ the statement said.

– See more at: http://www.skynews.com.au/news/top-stories/2015/10/14/china-slams-australia–us-on-south-china-sea.html