Military keeping 'all options open'

PLA determined to protect sovereignty, Defense Ministry says

China will not exclude any options in its efforts to protect its sovereignty in the South China Sea, the Ministry of Defense said ahead of a planned video conference between the navy chiefs of China and the United States on Thursday night.

"The Chinese military carries the mission of protecting the nation's sovereignty and security," said Yang Yujun, spokesman for the Ministry of Defense, at a news conference on Thursday, when asked whether the use of force was possible.