China has downplayed its ongoing military drills in South China Sea amid the ongoing dispute among several countries claiming a stake over the island.  

The Chinese defense ministry on Thursday described the "surprise" drills in the contested waters as routine "search and rescue" exercises.

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"The search and rescue exercises were being conducted off the coast of the island province of Hainan and were regular drills forming part of annual plans," a ministry spokesperson said.

Earlier, China's Maritime Safety Administration announced that the Chinese military would conduct a one-day drill off the coast of the Hainan province and northwest of the disputed Paracel Islands on Thursday.

The administration also did coordination for the routine exercise, ordering civilian vessels to refrain from entering the region.

Last week, a US-guided missile warship, the USS Decatur, had sailed into the contested waters near Paracel islands (known as Xisha islands in China).

Beijing criticized the US Navy for sailing a warship in the South China Sea and described the incident as "illegal" and "provocative."

"The act is clear evidence that the US is the real trouble-maker in the South China Sea, at a time when the overall situation in the region is embracing positive development," the Chinese defense ministry said.

China and Philippines have long been engaged in a bitter territorial dispute over the ownership of South China Sea, which is also known as West Philippines Sea.

In July, a United Nations supported international arbitration court had ruled in favor of the Philippines and rejected Beijing's historical ownership claims over the disputed territory. 

TagsSouth China Sea, South China Sea Dispute, military drills, China navy drills, Paracel Islands