Chinese military exercises in disputed part of South China Sea could worsen tensions, Pentagon says

Beijing hits back, accusing ‘non-regional countries’ of threatening stability

The US has accused China of trying to militarise the disputed waters (EPA)

The US Department of Defence expressed concern on Thursday about China holding military exercises in the South China Sea, saying the move will further destabilise the situation in the disputed waters.

“Conducting military exercises over disputed territory in the South China Sea is counterproductive to efforts at easing tensions and maintaining stability,” the department said in a statement.

China announced last week it had scheduled five days of drills starting 1 July near the Paracel Islands, which are claimed by both Vietnam and China.

“The military exercises are the latest in a long string of PRC actions to assert unlawful maritime claims and disadvantage its southeast Asian neighbours in the South China Sea,” the statement said, referring to the People's Republic of China.

Vietnam and the Philippines have also criticised the planned Chinese drills, warning it could create tension in the region and impact Beijing's relationship with its neighbours.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian, asked about the Pentagon's comments during a daily briefing in Beijing, said the military exercises were within the scope of China's sovereignty and said that certain “non-regional countries” conducting military exercises in the South China Sea were affecting the region's stability.

Mr Zhao did not name any countries, but the US has conducted multiple freedom of navigation operations by sending its warships through the area to assert the freedom of access to international waterways.

The US accuses China of militarising the South China Sea and trying to intimidate Asian neighbours who might want to exploit its extensive oil and gas reserves.

China claims 90 per cent of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, but Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also lay claim to parts of it, through which about $3 trillion (£2.4 trillion) of trade passes each year.

Reuters