A spokesman for China Defense Ministry on Thursday cautioned the U.S. against placing emphasis on the military threat that China possesses due to the country's activities in the South China Sea.

"We are firmly against any attempts to hype up the 'Chinese military threat' in disregard of the facts or to sow discord between China and its neighbors," Yang Yujun told reporters.

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China has repeatedly protested against attempts by the U.S. to get involved in the regional dispute over the South China Sea.

Earlier in the month, China accused the U.S. of supporting the Philippines' claims in the South China Sea. The accusation came after American State Undersecretary Daniel Russel noted that the both nations should respect the ruling of the international arbitration body regarding the contested territory. Russel also said that U.S. will help enforce the court's decision.

China has refused to partake in the arbitration initiated by the Philippines at the Hague. Instead, China has requested that the dispute is settled through bilateral discussions with the Philippines.

Yang accused the U.S. of "double standard" and making "hypocritical remarks." According to him, U.S. authorities have ignored construction works by neighboring countries in contested maritime territories. He said, nonetheless, that the U.S. government has made "irresponsible comments" about China's land reclamation project in its own territory.

"The U.S. side should speak and act with caution while sticking to its stand of not taking sides on foreign territorial disputes," Yang explained. "It should do more to benefit the China-U.S. military ties and promote regional peace and stability, instead of the other way around."

Yang revealed that the U.S. periodically conducts reconnaissance of the South China Sea using ships and airplanes.

Earlier in the month, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Scott Swift headed a flight over the disputed maritime territory. According to Yang, the presence of U.S. forces in the area only causes tension and increases the possibility of accidents. However, he noted that U.S. authorities are welcome to conduct civilian flights over the area.

This week, the Chinese navy has been staging military drills in the South China Sea. Yang noted that the exercise is a routine practice that didn't target any particular nation.

China and Russia are set to conduct joint naval military drills next month in the Gulf of Peter the Great, which sits close to Japan.

TagsSouth China Sea Island Building, Yang Yujun, China Russia Military Training Gulf of Peter the Great, China Military Drills South China Sea, South China Sea Military Exercise, Philippines South China Sea Arbitration, Philippines South China Sea U.S.