Hua Chunying, spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry, fired back on U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's statement regarding the South China Sea via 11 Twitter posts on Tuesday. Earlier, Pompeo said China's claims on South China Sea are "illegal."

Hua expressed firm opposition to the U.S. Department of State's statement and listed 10 "basic facts" refuting Pompeo's accusations. 

On the same day, Zhao Lijian, another China foreign ministry spokesperson, also responded with strong disagreement during a regular press briefing, saying it "deliberately distorts the facts and international law including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), exaggerates the situation in the region and attempts to sow discord between China and other littoral countries," calling the accusation "completely unjustified."

Here are the Hua's tweets:

“#Pompeo's statement on #SouthChinaSea is another proof of #US attempts to sow discord between China and other littoral countries. Some basic facts need to be cleared up:”

“1. #NineDashedLine was not announced by China in 2009. The first official #SouthChinaSea map with interrupted lines was published in 1948 by the Chinese government and handed down by successive governments with no others raising disputes.”

“2. The Chinese people's activities in the #SouthChinaSea date back to over 2,000 years ago. China's sovereignty and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea have been established in the long course of history, solidly grounded in history & law.”

“3. Over 70 years ago, China lawfully recovered the #Nansha & #Xisha Islands illegally occupied by Japan and resumed exercise of sovereignty. As a matter of fact, the military vessels China used in recovering the islands were provided by the #US.”

“4. China is committed to upholding the #freedomofnavigation and overflight in and above the #SouthChinaSea enjoyed by all states under #internationallaw. Such freedom has never encountered any problem and we have never heard about any country complaining about that.”

“5. None of the working oil drilling rigs in #disputedwaters in the #SouthChinaSea are China's.”

“6. It is the #US, not China, that believes in "might makes right" & resorts to force & intimidation at every turn. It is the US that has waged color revolutions & illegal wars, displacing millions in Iraq, Libya & Afghanistan. China has never started any war.”

“7. It is the #US, not China that takes a predatory world view. China upholds the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind and a neighborhood diplomacy of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness.”

“8. The US, tens of thousands of miles away from the #SouthChinaSea, sent advanced military airplanes to the region to flex its military muscles, which caused instability in the South China Sea. China, as an independent sovereign state, has the right to refuse bullying and injustice.”

“9. The #US has not ratified the #UNCLOS but keeps accusing China of violating the UNCLOS. That's hypocritical.”

“10. Consultations on the #COC are accelerating & advancing in an orderly manner. The 2nd reading of the draft negotiating text has been launched. China & @ASEANmembers have agreed to conclude the COC at an early date. No outside interference can sabotage such efforts.”