South China Sea has become a source of tension between China, the US, and some regional countries to control of trade routes and mineral deposits.
On Friday Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said that patrols by US military aircraft and navy vessels as well as its joint military drills with regional partners are behind “escalated tensions” in the South China Sea.
“That’s the real militarization of the South China Sea,” the Chinese official added.
Earlier this week the US and Taiwan accused China for militarization of that region. US State Department spokesman John Kirby on Thursday accused China of militarizing the region by placing missiles on Yongxing Island a part of the Xisha archipelago or Paracel Islands.
However, China rejects the allegations and accuses Washington of meddling in the regional issues and provoking further tensions in the South China Sea which has become a source of tension between China, the US, and some regional countries to control of trade routes and mineral deposits.