China has accused US Pacific Command Commander Harry Harris of "China-bashing" and "making waves in the South China Sea" following his recent comments criticizing Beijing for deploying weaponry to the South China Sea.

Global Times, the communist-backed newspaper, in a front page report last week Friday, accused Harris of bashing China. Harris has reportedly accused China of seeking regional hegemony in recent speeches and claims Beijing is bullying its neighbors in the disputed South China Sea.

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The publication warned Harris that if he continues issuing harsh comments against China, it will create fierce competition between Washington and Beijing that could lead to conflict.

                                                                                Nuclear powerhouses

"If two nuclear powerhouses engage in a competition to test each other's willpower, the whole world will face the repercussions," Global Times stated.

"Harris' words and deeds keep reminding us that we have to put more efforts into the building of islands in the South China Sea and deploying more weaponry," the publication defiantly noted.

On the same day when the state-run publication issued its harsh attacks against Harris, the US Navy dispatched a carrier strike group to a "routine patrol" in the disputed South China Sea.

                                                                                Chinese ships

Reports indicate that the Chinese navy closely tracked the US carrier strike group. "We have Chinese ships around us that we normally didn't see in my past experience," said Capt. Greg Huffman, commanding officer of the carrier, Stennis.

Global Times said Harris, as Pacific commander, plays a decisive role in steering US-China ties but refuses to assume the role and instead, resorts to unfair accusations and name calling.

The publication said that all Harris has been doing is throw unreasonable charges at China and he has not been making efforts to perform his duties.

                                                                                No signs

"However, so far, Harris has not shown any signs of obligation to safeguard peace in the South China Sea," Global Times stated. "His China-bashing words could be more than what his predecessors said combined. Although China and the US are having a hard time in the South China Sea in recent years, Harris' performance could easily leave an impression that he is unfriendly to China."

Harris, who concluded a world tour last week, has announced that the US will be conducting maritime exercises with the navies of India and Japan in Philippine waters, near  the disputed waters of the East and South China Seas.

                                                                               New Delhi

In a speech recently in New Delhi, Harris praised India for asserting leadership and authority in the Indo-Pacific region.

"We are ready for you. We need you. Let's be ambitious together," he said.

The Japan-born admiral took over the Hawaii-based Pacific Command in May 2015. Since then, he has made controversial statements and accusations against China including claims that Beijing is seeking dominance in the disputed South China Sea and 'bullying' its less powerful neighbors.

Harris has been under political attack from China following his statements and congressional testimonies against the mainland.

Harris has not release any comments regarding the Global Times article.

TagsPacific Command Commander Harry Harris, Global Times, 'China-bashing', Washington, china