Ministry of Defense spokesman Ren Guoqiang answered questions from reporters on the South China Sea exercise accused by the US Department of Defense.
Question: On July 2, the US Department of Defense released news about the Chinese military holding a military exercise near the Xisha Islands, accusing China of actions that led to instability in the South China Sea. Any comments on this?
Ren Guoqiang replied: Recently, the Chinese army has conducted military training in the waters of the Xisha Islands in China. The Chinese side has released news on June 27. This is a routine arrangement in the annual training plan, and its purpose is to effectively enhance the Chinese military’s maritime defense capabilities, resolutely defend national sovereignty and security, and maintain regional peace and stability. The training does not target any specific country or goal. The U.S. Department of Defense ignores the facts, reverses black and white, provokes regional relations, and attempts to profit from it. We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this.
At present, with the joint efforts of China and ASEAN countries, the situation in the South China Sea is generally stable and improving. Under this situation, the United States has continuously sent a large number of advanced warships to the South China Sea to provoke strength and repeatedly carried out "navigational hegemony" operations, threatening the security and stability of the region. Efforts run counter to wishes.
China has always been committed to building a community of shared future for Asia with regional countries and developing friendly and cooperative relations of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit. We hope that the United States will reflect on itself, stop military provocations in the South China Sea, stop unjustifiable accusations against China, stop provoking divisions among regional countries, and stop creating tensions.
People's Daily client Li Longyi