Cui: US patrol serious political, military provocation

Chinese ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai has criticised the US naval incursion in the South China Sea as a very serious provocation, politically and militarily. The ambassador said this in a CNN interview on Tuesday.

Cui called the patrol a clear attempt to militarize the region and escalate regional tensions. He said it's very absurd and even hypocritical that the US asks others not to militarize the region while itself is sending military vessels to the region so frequently.

Cui Tiankai emphasized that China's sovereignty and relevant rights over the South China Sea have been formed in the long course of history, not only after the reef construction. He said China is concerned about the situation and will ensure it has sufficient measures to safeguard its sovereignty and legitimate rights, as well as to maintain regional peace and stability. And nobody should have any illusions of further provocations.