2016年5月4日，英国主流大报《泰晤士报》纸质版和网络版分别刊登驻英国大使刘晓明题为《停止插手南海事务》的署名文章，全文如下：

On 4 May, the Times and its website published a signed article by Ambassador Liu Xiaoming entitled "Stop Meddling in the South China Sea". The full text is as follows:

最近，南海问题又被炒得沸沸扬扬。美国、英国都有人在南海问题上高调发声，指责中国造成了南海局势的紧张，鼓吹所谓"捍卫航行和飞越自由"。但实际上，他们这些充满偏见和偏袒的言论恰恰加剧了南海地区的紧张形势。

The issue of the South China Sea is being ramped up by those in the US and the UK who accuse China of causing tension in the region. They proclaim the principle of free navigation and overflight but in reality their prejudice and partiality will only increase tension.

首先，这些人指责中国的所谓"强硬行动"造成了南海局势的紧张。这种看法罔顾事实。中国人最早发现了南海诸岛，最早为其命名，最早实施行政管辖。然而，迄今为止南海有40多个岛礁被个别国家非法侵占。对此，中国始终坚持通过双边谈判协商解决争议，致力于共同维护南海地区的长期和平稳定。中国在南海的岛礁建设，完全是中国主权范围内的事，不针对任何国家，除满足必要的军事防卫需求外，更多的是为各类民事需求服务。

Their suggestion that China's "hard line" position about the sea increases friction is not based on fact. We were the first to discover and name its islands and reefs and the first to govern them. Despite this, more than 40 are now illegally occupied by other countries. Our talks with neighbours to resolve our differences shows how committed we are to regional peace and stability. China's construction on its own islands and reefs is a matter for us. These actions are not targeted at any other country. Apart from minimum defence facilities, the building works are primarily civilian in purpose.

第二，这些人鼓吹的所谓"捍卫航行和飞越自由"实际上是伪命题。请问南海航行和飞越自由受影响了吗？事实上，每年世界各国十万多艘船只在南海地区畅通无阻，从未发生问题。我不清楚这些人所称的"航行和飞越自由"到底是什么？是各国依据国际法享有的航行自由？还是个别国家耀武扬威，可以为所欲为地将军舰开到别人家门口，将军机飞越别国领空的自由？如果是后者，我想这样的自由实质上是一种公然的挑衅和敌对行为，应当受到谴责和禁止。

The claim that there is a threat to the freedom of navigation and overflight in the sea is false. Is there a single case in which this freedom has been affected? More than 100,000 vessels pass through the sea unimpeded every year. Is the freedom of navigation that every country is entitled to really the issue? Or is it the "freedom" of certain countries to flex military muscle and moor warships on other nations' doorsteps and fly military jets over others countries' territorial airspace? If it is the latter, such "freedom" should be condemned as a flagrantly hostile act and stopped.