U.S. militarizing South China Sea: spokesperson

Xinhua Updated: 2016-03-04

BEIJING, March 4, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Fu Ying (C, back), spokesperson for the fourth session of China's 12th National People's Congress (NPC), answers questions during a press conference on the session at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 4, 2016. The fourth session of the 12th NPC is scheduled to open in Beijing on March 5. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING -- A spokesperson for China's national legislature said Friday that it is the United States that is militarizing the South China Sea.

Fu Ying, spokesperson for this year's annual session of the National People's Congress that will kick off Saturday, said at a press conference that currently most of the advanced aircraft and warships passing through the South China Sea belong to the United States.

Fu made remarks when answering a question from a CBS correspondent about China's construction of military facilities in the islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

She said that according to its strategy of pivot to Asia-Pacific, the United States has decided to deploy a larger part of its naval force to this region. It is also strengthening military presence in the Asia Pacific region with its allies.

"Isn't it militarization?" She asked in reply, adding that wrongly accusing China's militarization in the waters is a hegemonic act in language, which will also mislead the situation.

Most of lawmakers and ordinary people are not pleased and do not agree with the U.S. showing off military power by sending warships to waters close to the South China Sea islands and reefs.

The United States said it did not take sides in the South China Sea disputes, however, its acts and rhetoric make people feel that it is raising tensions in the region, Fu said.

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