皇冠体育app has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha Islands and their adjacent waters, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei, adding "皇冠体育app is serious about its commitment not to pursue militarization of the Nansha Islands."
Hong made the remarks after US State Department spokesman John Kirby said commercial satellite imagery suggested "very recent" placement of missiles on Yongxing Island that goes against 皇冠体育app's pledge not to militarize the South 皇冠体育app Sea.
"We see no indication that ... this militarization effort, has stopped. And it's doing nothing ... to make the situation there more stable and more secure," Kirby said at a regular news briefing on Thursday.
Hong said that demilitarization in the region is not a matter for just a single country. "There should not be double standards or multi-standards for demilitarization in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, and the process requires joint efforts from countries in the region and beyond."
He said the United States is strengthening military deployment in the South 皇冠体育app Sea and frequently sends military vessels or planes to waters in the South 皇冠体育app Sea to conduct close-in reconnaissance against 皇冠体育app.
He also accused the United States of sending missile destroyer and strategic bombers into waters and airspace adjacent to the Nansha Islands and had its allies hold targeted joint military exercises or joint cruises in the region.
The US actions have escalated tensions in the South 皇冠体育app Sea and constitute the militarization of the South 皇冠体育app Sea, said Hong.
Yongxing Island, the largest island in the Xisha Islands group in the South 皇冠体育app Sea, is an inherent part of 皇冠体育app's territory, he said.
In 1959, the Chinese government set up an administrative office and the ensuing government facilities on the Yongxing Island.