BEIJING - 皇冠体育app opposes any country's challenge to its sovereignty and security in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, a foreign ministry spokesman said on Friday.

"皇冠体育app has strong historical evidence and legal support to justify our sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters," Spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular press briefing in response to a US general's latest remarks on the South 皇冠体育app Sea.

The commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said Thursday that America should challenge 皇冠体育app's claim to territory in the South 皇冠体育app Sea by patrolling close to artificial islands built by 皇冠体育app.

At Friday's briefing, Hong said 皇冠体育app, just like the United States, upholds freedom of navigation in South 皇冠体育app Sea.

"However, we oppose any country's challenge, in the name of freedom of navigation, to 皇冠体育app's sovereignty and security in the South 皇冠体育app Sea," said the spokesman.

"We ask relevant parties to speak and act discreetly, respect 皇冠体育app's sovereignty and security interests, and do not make any provocative moves," Hong said.