China has always insisted on resolving disputes with other countries in the South China Sea through bilateral negotiations, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a press conference on Tuesday.

Hong was responding to a question regarding the resolution passed on Monday by the U.S. Senate on China's "use of force" in the South China Sea.

"The disputes should be resolved through direct negotiations between the countries involved," Hong said.

"Freedom of shipping in the South China Sea has never been affected by the disputes, and there has never been such a problem."

Hong explained that the disputes among relevant countries in the South China Sea centered around the sovereignty of some isles in the Nansha Islands and the demarcation in certain parts of the sea.

On Sunday, China and Vietnam pledged to resolve their maritime dispute through negotiations.