Separately, on May 21, 2015, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hong Lei reaffirmed China's territorial claims in the South China Sea and urged the U.S. to keep its promise of a neutral position on the sovereignty issue. Hong Lei was responding to remarks made by U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken on May 20, that China's land reclamation in the South China Sea is undermining freedom and stability, and could even lead to conflict. Hong Lei said China's construction in the South China Sea is within China's sovereignty, aiming to provide service for marine search and rescue, disaster prevention and reduction, navigation safety, as well as fulfilling China's international responsibilities and obligations.