BEIJING -- Dividing spheres of influence and stoking geopolitical confrontation will in no way make a country safer, and still less bring peace to the world, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said at a daily press briefing on Wednesday.

Spokeswoman Mao Ning made the remarks in response to the recent statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that "this is our hemisphere, and President (Donald) Trump will not allow our security to be threatened."

"Common security and cooperative security are sustainable security," Mao stressed.