China scolds U.S. for pulling invitation to major naval drill

China's Defence Ministryexpressed regret on Thursday after the United States withdrew aninvitation to China to attend a major U.S.-hosted naval drill,saying that closing the door does not promote mutual trust andco-operation.

The Rim of the Pacific exercise, known as RIMPAC andpreviously attended by China, is billed as the world's largest international maritime exercise and held every two years inHawaii in June and July.

RIMPAC enabled the armed forces of the world's two largesteconomies to directly engage with each other. It was viewed byboth countries as a way to ease tensions and reduce the risk ofmiscalculation should they meet under less friendlycircumstances.

Closing the door to communication at any time is not conducive towards promoting mutual trust and communication between the Chinese and U.S. militaries.- China's Defence Ministry

The Pentagon said the invitation was withdrawn inresponse to what it sees as Beijing's militarization of islands in the disputed South China Sea, a strategic waterway claimed inlarge part by China.

In a brief statement, China's Defence Ministry said theUnited States had "ignored the facts and hyped up the so-called 'militarization' of the South China Sea" and used it as an excuseto disinvite China.

"This decision by the United States is not constructive.Closing the door to communication at any time is not conducive towards promoting mutual trust and communication between theChinese and U.S. militaries," it added.

China's island-building programme in the South China Sea hassparked concern around the region and in Washington aboutChinese intentions.

China says it has every right to build what it callsnecessary defensive facilities on its own territory.

'Irresponsible remarks'

Over the weekend, China's air force landed bombers on islandsin the sea as part of a training exercise, triggering concernfrom Vietnam and the Philippines.

The ministry reiterated that its building of defencefacilities was to protect the country's sovereignty and legitimate rights, and had nothing to do with militarization.

"The United States has no right to make irresponsibleremarks about this," it added.

"Being invited or not cannot change China's will to play arole in protecting peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and cannot shake China's firm determination to defendits sovereignty and security interests."

If the U.S. military increases its activities in the South China Sea, then our side will need to further strengthen its military deployments there.- The Global Timesnewspaper

It is in both countries' interests to develop healthymilitary ties, and China hopes the United States keeps the broader picture in mind, abandon its "zero sum" mentality andappropriately handle disputes, the ministry said.

Pentagon officials have long complained that China has been using South China Sea islands to gather intelligence and that China has not been candid enough about its rapid military buildup in the region.

In an editorial on its website, the widely read Chinesestate-run tabloid the Global Times said there was no way China could trade in its interests in the South China Sea for accessto the exercise.

"If the U.S. military increases its activities in the SouthChina Sea, then our side will need to further strengthen its military deployments there," it wrote.

Chinese officials have accused Washington of viewing theircountry in suspicious"Cold War" terms.

Speaking at a separate briefing, Chinese Foreign MinistryspokespersonLu Kang said China has sovereign rights in the SouthChina Sea and it is not realistic for the United States to usethis kind of action to try to coerce Beijing.

The United States has dispatched warships to disputed areasof the South China Sea in a bid to challenge China's extensivesovereignty claims in the territory, which is subject to variousclaims by China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Brunei andMalaysia.