U.S. provocative moves are root cause for maritime security issues: Chinese FM spokesperson

(ECNS)-- "For quite some time, the U.S. side has frequently sent aircraft and vessels to conduct close-in reconnaissance on China, seriously threatening China’s sovereignty and security. Such provocative and dangerous moves are the root cause for maritime security issues," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at the daily news briefing on Wednesday. 

Mao made the remarks when asked to make a comment on a U.S. accusation that a Chinese fighter jet carried out an “unnecessarily aggressive” maneuver near a U.S. military plane last week over the South China Sea in international airspace. 

The U.S. needs to immediately stop such dangerous acts of provocation, Mao said.

China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard our sovereignty and security, the spokesperson added.