China expresses "deep concern" over US-ROK September military drills

Beijing, July 22(ANI): China has expressed "deep concern" over the joint military drills between the United States and Republic of Korea (ROK) slated to be held in the Yellow Sea by early September.

"We resolutely oppose any foreign military vessel and aircraft conducting activities in the Yellow Sea and China's coastal waters that undermine China's security interests," The China Daily quoted Qin Gang, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, as saying.

"We will continue to follow closely the developments of the situation," he added.

The Yellow Sea is located between the Chinese mainland and the Korean Peninsula. The ROK calls it the Sea of Japan the East Sea.

The US and ROK claim that the exercises aim to deter the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) from any future attack, after Seoul blamed Pyongyang for the sinking of ROK warship Cheonan in March.

Earlier, Chinese military analysts had said that the exercises will put Beijing under the attacking sphere of the US aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is involved in the drill. (ANI)