BEIJING, Jan. 22 -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Thursday urged non-parties to stick to an objective and impartial stance over the South China Sea issue.

Non-parties should contribute to mutual trust, cooperation, regional peace and stability instead of sowing discord or fanning flames, said spokeswoman Hua Chunying at a routine press briefing.

Hua's remarks came after U.S. assistant secretary of state Daniel Russel on Wednesday said that "bigger nations can't bully the small" in the South China Sea.

China has always stood for equality of all countries, big and small, said Hua. Bigger countries should not bully the small, and the small should not make trouble out of nothing, she stressed.

Countries are equal not only in their rights but also in abiding by international rules, said the spokeswoman.

China has repeatedly expounded its position in the South China Sea, Hua said, stressing the country has always sought peaceful settlement of territorial and maritime disputes through dialogue and consultation.

She urged parties concerned to take practical actions to implement the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) to safeguard regional peace and stability.

The DOC was signed in 2002 between China and the member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including the Philippines.