Beijing, Feb 1 (Prensa Latina) China blamed the United States on Monday for promoting the militarization of the South China Sea, and urged Washington to stop creating tension on behalf of the freedom of navigation.
This government always respect and supports the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea guaranteed by international law to all countries, said the Chinese Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Lu Kang.

Lu's statements came at a press conference in response to the recent incursion of a missile-carrying destroyer of the US Navy in Chinese waters.

The Pentagon's spokesman, Captain Jeff Davis, noted on Saturday that the said operation was aimed at challenging the policies that restrict the rights and freedom of navigation, but the United States does not take any stance on the claims for sovereignty over natural land formations in the South China Sea.

In light of that situation, the spokesman responded that the so-called "freedom of navigation plan" exercised by Washington for many years does not comply with international law, ignores the sovereignty, security and maritime rights of the coastal countries and endangers peace and stability in the region.

In fact, what the United States wants is maritime hegemony using "freedom" as a pretext, which has been condemned by the international community, especially the developing countries, Lu stressed.

He added that the United States was dangerous and irresponsible and, in that regard, he advised the US administration to abandon that kind of harmful maneuver.

On Saturday, the missile-carrying destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur navigated at 12 nautical miles from Zhongjian Dao, which is part of the Xisha islands.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, Chinese troops stationed on the island and ships and planes from the Navy on that territory reacted immediately: they identified the US ship, issue warnings and finally expelled it.

Both the Foreign Ministry as the Ministry of National Defense issued a communiqué condemning those actions.