Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei has warned Western powers against sending warships to the South China Sea, vowing that Beijing may retaliate.
“The Chinese side believes that the South China Sea should not become a sea of great power rivalry dominated by weapons and warships,” Tan said during a press conference on Saturday.
He argued that the "real source of militarisation” in the area emanates from the countries “outside this region sending their warships thousands of kilometres from home to flex muscles”.
The Defence Ministry spokesman pledged that the Chinese military “will take necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests as well as peace and stability in the South China Sea”.
He added that "China's defence build-up and development has always been an addition to the global force for peace,” expressing hope that “various parties can correct their prejudice and have a rational view of China and its military development”.
The remarks followed reports that the UK's newest aircraft carrier, the HMS Queen Elizabeth, may be deployed to the South China in the coming months as part of the vessel’s first operational mission.
In February 2019, then-UK Defence Minister Gavin Williamson confirmed that the Queen Elizabeth’s first operational mission would include the South China Sea, something that should add to “making a global Great Britain a reality”.
The reported developments come amid ongoing regional tensions over South China Sea territories which apart from China are claimed by an array of countries, including the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Despite having no claims to the territories, the US is also actively engaged in the dispute, sending its military vessels to the South China Sea for the so-called freedom of navigation missions, in what sparks harsh criticism from Beijing which rejects such acts as "provocations".