国内英语新闻:U.S. hype over 'militarization' in South China Sea double standards

BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- The whole brouhaha stirred up by the United States over alleged "militarization in the South China Sea" is clearly double standards, Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said Thursday at a monthly press briefing in Beijing.

Several high-ranking U.S. officials have recently accused China of militarizing the South China Sea and ratcheting up tensions.

The U.S. has sent military vessels and planes into China's territory without authorization to conduct surveillance, he said.

Some countries in the South China Sea are illegally occupying China's islands and reefs, and have deployed radars and artillery there.

He added that the U.S. had called on its allies and partners to conduct "targeted" joint drills and patrols.

"Is that not a kind of militarization?" he asked.

He said that the U.S. should not turn a blind eye to all those behaviors while throwing accusations at China. Otherwise it was blatant double standards.