China slams US for trespassing in South China Sea

China has slammed US warships and military aircraft's "willful and repeated trespassing" into the adjacent waters and airspace of China's islands and reefs in the South China Sea.

"The trespassing hurts regional peace and stability, harms China's sovereignty and security, and endangers the lives of frontline officers and soldiers of both sides," Xinhua quoted Ren Guoqiang, Spokesperson, China's Ministry of National Defence as saying at a press conference on Thursday.

Guoqiang called the trespassing "a highly dangerous provocation".

"We demand that the United States immediately stop such infringement upon China's interests," Ren said, adding that the Chinese military is always on high alert and will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests.