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.
"As far as we understand, Chinese fishing and scientific research vessels carry out normal production and work activities in maritime areas under China's jurisdiction," China's foreign ministry said in response to Reuters's request for comments.
