China denies threatening Asean-India naval drills

Encounters with Chinese ships in disputed waters are a frequent occurrence. In the photo above, Chinese vessels are seen from the Philippine coast guard ship Malabrigo, moored at Awash shoal in April. (Photo: AFP)

BEIJING: China’s foreign ministry on Tuesday dismissed accusations that boats belonging to a Chinese maritime militia had deliberately approached an area of the South China Sea where the navies of Indian and Asean countries were holding drills.

An independent expert in Vietnam said Beijing appeared to be using the militia to intimidate and disrupt the naval exercise.