China's ambassador to the United States, Cui Tiankai, has rebuked a claim made by some US lawmakers that China is raising tensions in the South China Sea. He said that the tensions in the area have been caused by active intervention by the United States in maritime disputes.

Following the lawmakers' comments made at a Senate hearing on Wednesday, Mr. Cui reiterated that Washington has no right whatsoever to intervene in the legitimate activities conducted by China in the South China Sea.

"What we have done is within our sovereign rights. We don't go to other nations' territories. On the contrary, some countries have come to China's reef and islands and conducted activities of their own. The United States has never blamed them. Should we have a one-standard? The Cold-War mentality, which is prone to the use of force to resolve disputes, is already outdated," Cui said.