Beijing seeks 'positive energy' in S. China Sea

China urges countries outside of the South China Sea region to stop stirring threats of war and tension in the region, the Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

Ren Guoqiang, 47, who debuted as the ministry's spokesman at its first news conference of the year, said China was monitoring the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, which entered the South China Sea on Saturday.

It was the first patrol by a US carrier in the region since US President Donald Trump took office.