The rights and freedom of all countries to conduct activities in the Arctic in accordance with law should be fully respected, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said on Monday.
Mao Ning, the spokeswoman, made the statement at a regular press briefing in Beijing after U.S. President Donald Trump recently said that the United States needs to take control of Greenland to prevent China and Russia from taking over Denmark's Arctic territory.
"The Arctic concerns the overall interests of the international community. China's activities in the Arctic are intended to promote regional peace, stability and sustainable development of the Arctic, which is in full compliance with international law," Mao said.
"The lawful rights and freedoms of all states to conduct activities in the Arctic deserve due respect. The United States should not use other countries as a pretext for pursuing its own selfish interests," she said.
Rights, freedom of all countries to conduct activities in Arctic according to law should be respected: Chinese spokeswoman
