The attempt of US Embassy in Singapore chargé d'affaires Casey Mace to draw a parallel between China's legitimate claims in the South China Sea and the shared corridors of Singapore's Housing and Development Board (HDB) flat, by posting a video on multiple social media platforms, sparked widespread criticism and ridicule from netizens. 

The 90-second video is roughly divided into two parts. The first half features footage of Singapore's HDB flats, accompanied by a voiceover stating, "Our homes are our sanctuaries. And when we live together, it's important to respect each other's space and our common space."

The narrative then shifts, asking viewers to "imagine coming home one day and to find this"—followed by images of cluttered public corridors and screenshots of news reports about disputes over shared spaces. 

The video continues, "A neighbour has decided that the space in front of your door is theirs," before abruptly posing the rhetorical question, "Does this remind you of anything else?"

Then the video abruptly shifts tone and enters its main theme, as the screen displays a series of screenshots from foreign media reports hyping up tensions in the South China Sea. The video references the so-called South China Sea arbitration ruling and draws a direct comparison between China's legitimate and lawful claims in the region and a neighbor occupying shared corridor space in public housing.

Many online users slammed the analogy as a forced and flawed attempt to interfere in regional affairs and misrepresent China's position.

"Don't bring your own politics/rivalry with China to Singapore," a netizen said in commenting on the video posted on Instagram. 

"Singapore is not your pawn," another netizen said. 

"The US believes in international law? LOL" a netizen on Facebook said. 

The US diplomat also referred to the illegal South China Sea arbitration in 2016 with the video. 

China is committed to working with the countries concerned to appropriately address sea-related differences through dialogue and consultation on the basis of respect for historical facts and international law, Charge d'affaires Ambassador Geng Shuang said at the UN Security Council open debate on maritime security on Tuesday. 

The so-called award in the South China Sea arbitration is illegal and invalid, and China does not accept or recognize it, Geng said. 

Geng also noted that the US under the banner of freedom of navigation, has frequently sent its military vessels to the South China Sea to flex its muscles and openly stir up confrontation between regional countries. The US itself is the biggest threat to the peace and stability of the South China Sea, the Chinese diplomat said. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday visited the New Development Bank in Shanghai and met with Dilma Rousseff, president of the institution.

Rousseff led the bank's four vice presidents and other employees to welcome Xi when he arrived.

Xi congratulated Rousseff on her reelection as president of the New Development Bank, and noted that the bank is the world's first multilateral development institution established and led by emerging markets and developing countries.

Xi called the bank "a pioneering initiative for the unity and self-improvement of the Global South," and said that it conforms to the historical trend of reforming and improving global governance.

He stressed that broader BRICS cooperation has entered a stage of high-quality development, and that the bank is set to embark on its second golden decade of high-quality development.

Xi called on the bank to consider the development needs of the Global South, and to provide more high-quality, low-cost and sustainable infrastructure financing.

The bank needs to improve its management and operations, implement more technology and green finance projects, and help developing countries bridge the digital divide and accelerate green and low-carbon transformation, Xi said.

In discussions on the reform of international financial architecture, the bank should amplify the voice of the Global South, safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the Global South, and support the countries of the Global South in their pursuit of modernization, he said.

He noted that as the bank's host country, China will always support the operations and development of the New Development Bank. China is willing to strengthen project cooperation with the bank and focus on green, innovative and sustainable development to achieve more results, he added.

China is also willing to share its development experience through the bank with other member countries, and stands ready to provide more international public goods, Xi said.