People's Republic of China protest against the U.S.-South Korean naval drills held in the immediate vicinity of China's maritime belt, General Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of the People's Liberation Army of China said on Saturday.
"As far as these exercises are conducted... in the close proximity to our territorial waters, we strongly protest," Ma Xiaotian told Phoenix TV channel.
Joint U.S.-South Korean naval drills with the participation of U.S. aircraft carrier are due to start on July 5. The same day, Chinese naval drills in the East China Sea will be over.
The announcement about the Chinese drills came on June 28, several days after the United States and South Korea announced plans about joint naval maneuvers in the Yellow Sea. Nevertheless, China denies any connection between these two military activities.
BEIJING, July 3 (RIA Novosti)
