China said today that the United States (US) should not use other countries as an "excuse" to pursue its interests in Greenland and that Beijing's activities in the Arctic are in line with international law.
This comment by a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs came in response to a question asked at a regular daily briefing.
"The rights and freedoms of all countries to conduct activities in the Arctic in accordance with the law should be fully respected. The US should not pursue its own interests by using other countries as an excuse," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Ning Mao.
US President Donald Trump has said he would like to reach a deal to acquire Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of Denmark, to prevent Russia or China from taking it over.
Tensions between Washington, Denmark and Greenland have risen this month as Trump and his administration push the issue, and the White House is considering a range of options, including military force, to annex Greenland.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has warned that a US takeover of Greenland would mark the end of NATO.
On Friday, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and the leaders of four other parties in the Greenlandic parliament issued a joint statement reiterating that Greenland's future must be decided by its people and highlighting their "desire to end the US contempt for the country."
On Sunday, Trump repeated his argument that the US should "take Greenland" because otherwise Russia or China will do it.
He said he would rather "make a deal, but one way or another, we'll have Greenland."
In 2018, China declared itself a "Near-Arctic state" in an effort to gain greater influence in the region.
Beijing has also announced plans to build a "Polar Silk Road" as part of its global "Belt and Road" initiative.
Bonus video:
