China firmly opposes any country using the so-called bilateral treaty as an excuse to meddle in the South China Sea issue and undermine China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, a defense spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The South China Sea should be a sea of peace, friendship and cooperation, rather than an arena for bloc confrontation launched by certain countries, said Tan Kefei, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, when commenting on the Bilateral Defense Guidelines recently concluded by the United States and the Philippines.

China's armed forces will pay close attention to relevant changes and take necessary measures to resolutely safeguard China's national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, he said.