China expressed firm opposition on Wednesday to any attempts to confuse or distort the nature of the Taiwan question, urging relevant parties to adhere to the one-China principle through concrete actions and respect China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

"Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair. The Taiwan question and the Ukraine crisis are not comparable at all," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a regular news briefing in Beijing.

He made the remarks when asked about recent remarks made at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore by a certain European country's leader, who linked the Ukraine crisis with the Taiwan question, alluded to a so-called "China threat" on the South China Sea issue, and suggested that NATO has the grounds to "be involved" in the Asia-Pacific region.

"We firmly rejected relevant remarks," Lin said.

The spokesman said that the current situation in the South China Sea is generally stable and there is not any problem with the freedom of navigation and overflight that countries enjoy in accordance with the law.

On the basis of respecting historical facts, China remains committed to properly solving maritime disputes and differences with parties directly concerned through negotiations and consultation, Lin said.

"Countries outside of the region need to respect the efforts of regional countries to uphold peace and stability in the South China Sea, instead of instigating tensions and creating disputes," he said.

Lin said that China firmly opposes NATO's attempt to advance eastward into the Asia-Pacific region, stir up tensions and create confrontation in the region, and sabotage regional and even global peace and stability.

As a regional defensive military organization, NATO has no right to reach beyond its geographical scope and the mandate defined by its treaty, he said.

Asia-Pacific countries do not welcome NATO in the Asia-Pacific and the region certainly does not need an Asia-Pacific NATO, he added.

"Asia is the shared home of China and other Asian countries. In recent years, through the joint efforts of regional countries, Asia has maintained rapid growth and become a pacesetter in global growth and peaceful development," Lin said.

The spokesman added that instead of engaging in malicious speculation or sowing discord among Asia-Pacific countries based on a Cold War mentality, relevant parties should focus on actions contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn