There is nothing inappropriate with China stationing troops and deploying territory defense facilities in the disputed South China Sea as it is the country’s natural right, Senior Colonel Ren Guoqiang, spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) said.
This move of China, according to Guoqiang, does not in any way intend to suppress any country. It is meant to help in “maintaining peace and stability in the region.”
“It is conducive to safeguarding the state’s sovereignty and security, ensuring the freedom and security of navigation channels in the South China Sea, and maintaining regional peace and stability. It is not directed against any country, ” Ren Guoqiang said in a statement posted on his website.
“China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development, pursue a national defense policy that is defensive in nature and a military strategy of active defense, ” he added.
Guoqiang also said that this could be “China’s countermeasure against the US freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea.”
His statement was released after reports that China is firming up its deployment of military facilities in the disputed sea surfaced.
(DAILY NEWS ROUND UP FOR 04/ 11 /18)