Outsiders urged not to 'make trouble'

Countries in the South China Sea have every justification to be on the alert against countries outside the region that intend to disrupt regional peace, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Friday.

"Individual countries outside the South China Sea insist on stirring up trouble in the region, where the situation is becoming calm," Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a daily news conference in Beijing. Lu spoke after British officials said the United Kingdom will dispatch military vessels to the region.

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said on Thursday that the UK plans to send a warship to the region next year to conduct "freedom of navigation" exercises, Reuters reported. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson also said in Sydney on Thursday that the country would deploy its two new aircraft carriers to the waters.