The aerial photo taken on May 24, 2019 shows a China's semi-submersible drilling platform in the South China Sea. (Xinhua/Wang Yuguo)

China urges the United States to stop malicious hyping and play a positive and constructive role in international and regional affairs, a foreign ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.

Spokesperson Geng Shuang made the comments at a daily press briefing in response to the US Department of Defense's accusation that "China recently resumed its coercive interference in Vietnam's longstanding oil and gas activities in the South China Sea."

"The rights and wrongs of the issue are quite clear. The US has made irresponsible remarks over and over again, disregarding facts and calling black white, and China is firmly opposed to that," he said.

China firmly safeguards the world order and abides by international law, always exercising its legitimate rights in the region based on international law, and firmly safeguarding regional peace, stability and order, Geng said.