External forces orchestrator promoting 'militarization' of South China Sea region: report

BEIJING -- The interference of extra-regional powers, particularly the United States, has significantly intensified the militarization of the South China Sea, says a report released on Thursday.

The report, titled "Incitement, Threats, and Lies -- The Truth about External Forces Interfering in the South China Sea Issue," was released by the Xinhua Institute, a think tank affiliated with Xinhua News Agency.

According to the document, in recent years, the United States has ramped up its support for South China Sea nations, particularly the Philippines, through military aid, joint exercises, technical cooperation, and personnel training.

The report underscores that all these have reinforced the US military presence in the region, deepened interference in South China Sea disputes, escalated regional tensions, and undermined the collective efforts of China and ASEAN nations to safeguard peace and stability.

In addition, the United States has long conducted so-called "freedom of navigation operations" in the South China Sea and reinforced its alliance network across the so-called "Indo-Pacific region."

In 2023, the number of US military bases in the Philippines increased from five to nine. In 2024, the United States deployed the "Typhon" medium-range missile system in Luzon, further strengthening its tactical deterrence against China, according to the report.

Beyond bilateral initiatives, the United States has strengthened military cooperation with regional allies, deepening trilateral security ties with Japan and the Republic of Korea, expanding military collaboration with Japan and Australia, and advancing the AUKUS security partnership with the United Kingdom and Australia, the report stresses.

This report is part of a series of three reports on South China Sea issue released by the Xinhua Institute. The other two reports are titled "Historical and Legal Basis of China's Territorial Sovereignty and Maritime Rights in the South China Sea," and "Making the South China Sea a Sea of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation: China's Actions."