Maritime rights of China in the South China Sea are backed by history and supported by international law, a spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

Hong Lei, the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, gave the comment in reaction to a statement made by Danny Russel, US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, on territorial claims of China in the South China Sea.

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In his testimony at the US Congress Committee on Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, Russel advised the body that China's claims are not in compliance with international law and should therefore be subject to clarifications and adjustments.

Russel said maritime rights upheld by China using the "nine-dash line' not derived from land features is not in accordance with the international law of the sea. 

The nine-dash line first appeared officially on a 1947 Chinese map and later included in Chinese maps published after 1949.

On the maps, 80 percent of the South China Sea covering a total area of 3.5 million square kilometers is taken in by the nine-dash line. 

According to Hong, China has pledged its commitment and cooperation to negotiate and consult with parties concerned so as to settle the maritime conflicts.

Hong added that China supports the implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) with its ASEAN neighbors in an effort to collectively maintain stability and peace in the region.

Perceiving that some statements made by US officials before the house committee are not helpful in resolving the conflict, Hong asked the US to have a reasonable and unbiased stand on the South China Sea dispute, so that peace, security and progress would reign in the region and not the contrary.