The US should reassess its South China Sea policy with overall Sino-US ties in mind, the People's Daily said in an editorial published on Wednesday. 

The article, published under the pen name "Zhong Shen," a homonym in Chinese for "voice of China" that is often used to express the paper's views on foreign policy, came after a forum on the South China Sea was held between Chinese and US think tanks on Wednesday.

During the forum, 15 American scholars and former diplomats and more than 10 Chinese experts agreed that China and the US should safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea together rather than allowing the region hinder ties. 

"The forum comes at the right time, as certain political forces in the US and the Philippines are using the arbitration unilaterally filed by the Philippines to meddle in the waters of the South China Sea, the article commented. 

"The forum will not only help US strategists understand China's resolution and capability to defend its own interests and rights, but also push them to reconsider the US' position on the South China Sea issue," added the editorial.

The article also pointed out that as a country outside the region, the US is not directly concerned with the South China Sea issue, yet it has continued to increase tensions in the region by using the issue as a tool for its own strategic interests.

The paper pointed out that over the past few years, US senior officials have been hyping the South China Sea issue on different occasions, while also pointing fingers at China's reasonable claims. They have even incited regional countries including the Philippines to make trouble for China.

"For instance, freedom of navigation in the South China Sea has not been a problem, but the US has labeled it as an issue for its own interests. The Pentagon has even flexed its military muscles by deploying aircraft carriers, strategic bombers and missile destroyers," read the article. 

"At this time, the US must reevaluate its South China Sea policy with the big picture of Sino-US ties in mind," the People's Daily urged.

The editorial concluded by saying that China hopes the US would make a rational choice on the issue, "but at the same time China is also well prepared for any risky actions the US might take."