China today began military exercises in South China Sea. In a statement on its website, China’s maritime administration said entrance to parts of South China Sea would be prohibited for the military drills. The exercises will continue till Thursday.
In a related development Foreign Minister of the Philippines has said his government has rejected China’s offer to discuss their territorial dispute in the South China Sea. He said reason for refusal is that Beijing will not permit last week’s ruling by an international court to serve as the basis of the talks.
A top Chinese Admiral said yesterday that China will not stop construction on the Nansha Islands in strategic South China Sea which was awarded to the Philippines by an international tribunal. Wu Shengli, commander of the People’s Liberation Army Navy told his US counterpart Admiral John Richardson during their meeting in Beijing that the Nansha Islands are China’s inherent territory, and Chinese construction on the islands is reasonable, justified and lawful.