China Rejects US Statement Over Planned Nature Reserve At South China Sea
China on Friday urged the United States to stop playing up tensions and instigating confrontation in the South China Sea, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said. Guo made the remarks in response to a press statement issued by the U.S. State Department spokesperson on Aug. 8 local time, which said the United States rejects […]
Source: Business Today Malaysia · August 14, 2026 at 6:54 PM · AI-assisted report
KUALA LUMPUR, 15 AUGUST 2026 —
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KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 - China has rejected a statement by the US regarding a planned nature reserve in the South China Sea, with Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun urging the US to stop instigating confrontation in the region. The remarks were made in response to a US State Department statement issued on Aug 8, which expressed opposition to China's plans. Details of the planned nature reserve are not yet available.
Market Impact
The development is likely to have implications for Malaysia, which has its own claims in the South China Sea. The country has long been involved in territorial disputes in the region, and any escalation of tensions between the US and China could potentially impact Malaysia's economic and security interests.
Malaysia's foreign ministry has not yet commented on the latest developments, and it remains to be seen how the country will respond to the growing tensions between the two global powers.
According to the Chinese foreign ministry, the US statement was an attempt to play up tensions and instigate confrontation in the South China Sea. Guo Jiakun said that China rejects the US statement and urged the US to respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US State Department spokesperson had said on Aug 8 that the US rejects China's plans, but details of the statement are not yet available.
The incident is the latest in a series of diplomatic exchanges between the US and China over the South China Sea, with both countries accusing each other of destabilizing the region.
The outlook for the region remains uncertain, with tensions between the US and China showing no signs of easing. Malaysia and other countries in the region will be closely watching developments, as any escalation of tensions could have significant implications for trade, security, and economic growth. Details not yet available on how the situation will unfold, but analysts expect the diplomatic tensions to continue in the coming weeks and months.
Related: Sea