The government firmly opposes activities infringing upon China's rights and interests in relevant maritime areas, a statement issued on Tuesday said.

The government statement, issued after a ruling by an arbitral tribunal in the unilaterally-initiated case on the South China Sea, pointed out that China is ready to continue to resolve disputes peacefully through negotiation and consultation "with the states directly concerned on the basis of respecting historical facts and in accordance with international law".

Mentioning that the activities of Chinese in the South China Sea date back more than 2,000 years, the statement pointed out that China is the first to have discovered, named, explored and exploited South China Sea islands and relevant waters.

China is also "the first to have exercised sovereignty and jurisdiction over them continuously, peacefully and effectively, thus establishing territorial sovereignty and relevant rights and interests in the South China Sea", the statement said.

China's Nanhai Zhudao (the South China Sea Islands) consist of Dongsha Qundao (the Dongsha Islands), Xisha Qundao (the Xisha Islands), Zhongsha Qundao (the Zhongsha Islands) and Nansha Qundao (the Nansha Islands), the statement added.

China has territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea, including sovereignty over Nanhai Zhudao, internal waters, territorial sea and the contiguous zone, based on Nanhai Zhudao, and the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, based on Nanhai Zhudao, said the statement.

The statement pointed out that "China respects and upholds the freedom of navigation and overflight enjoyed by all states under international law in the South China Sea, and stays ready to work with other coastal states and the international community to ensure the safety of, and the unimpeded access to, the international shipping lanes in the South China Sea".

China is ready "to make every effort with the states directly concerned to enter into provisional arrangements of a practical nature, including joint development in relevant maritime areas", to achieve win-win results and jointly maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, the statement added.