China will join a multinational military exercise involving ten member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next month.

Several Asean members include its rival South China Sea claimants.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Wu Qian said that China will send its missile destroyer class Lanzhou and 12 special force troops to the military war games dubbed  "ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting-Plus Maritime Security and Counter-Terrorism Exercise." 

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The exercise will be held in the waters of Brunei and Singapore near disputed South China Sea islands. 

Chinese troops and naval officers will join their counterparts from the ASEAN countries and eight other dialogue partners namely, India, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia, United States, Australia  and the Philippines. There will be various amphibious exercises such as surface operations exercise, particularly visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS).

Defense and security fields

Wu said that the multilateral exercise will help the militaries of the participating countries to "learn from each other and deepen practical cooperation in the defense and security fields."

China claims almost the entirety of the South China Sea and continues to build islands and construct airstrips, harbors, and radar systems in disputed territories.

Amid all its reclamation activities in the region, Beijing reiterated that the only way to resolve its disputes with the five claimant countries is through "friendly dialogues."

Reports said most of the claimants have asked the US for support in the region, increasing the tensions between Beijing and Washington.

Provocative actions

The Chinese government has accused the US of "provocative actions" in the South China Sea with its freedom of navigation patrols and warned Washington not to interfere in the affairs of other countries.

Wu said Beijing is prepared to handle the improved naval patrols of the US in the South China Sea. It will also uphold and defend its sovereignty over their controlled territories at all costs.

"No matter how many and how frequently U.S. ships come to the South China Sea, that would not change the fact that the islands and adjacent islands are China's inherent territory, it would not stop the pace of China's growth and development and even more it would not shake the will of the People's Liberation Army in resolutely safeguarding the sovereignty and security of China," Wu said.

Tagsmultinational military exercise, china, South China Sea claimants, Col. Wu Qian, missile destroyer