China has expressed its strong dissatisfaction of a statement that the Group of Seven foreign ministers issued which touched upon disputes in the East and South China Seas.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin said the disputes have nothing to do with foreign countries like Japan and the United States.   

"Whether the United States or Japan, both of them are hyping up the issue. Issues on the South China Sea have nothing to do with them. Issues on the South China Sea should be solved through negotiations among parties that are directly related to this issue. The peace and stability of the South China Sea and the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea should be promoted by China and the ASEAN countries," he said.

Regarding the arbitration case brought forward by the Philippines, the vice foreign minister said Manila should stop activities which violate China's territorial sovereignty, rights and interests. He added they should return to the correct track of resolving relevant disputes through bilateral negotiations. He said China is negotiating with parties directly related to the issue, and will not accept nor participate in forced arbitration. 

"In the past 20 years, we had agreements and commitments with the Philippines to solve issues through negotiations. We signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea to solve issues through negotiations. Now the Philippines is raising an arbitration on the South China Sea issue. This is a kind of treachery. Telling from other countries' experience, all disputes only can be solved through negotiations, so that negotiation results will be respected," he said.