The Pentagon denounced Thursday the holding of Chinese military exercises around an archipelago disputed in the South China Sea, saying that they "will further destabilize" the situation in the region. "The Defense Ministry is concerned about China's decision to conduct military exercises around the Paracel archipelago in the South China Sea from July 1 to 5," the Pentagon said in a statement. These activities "will further destabilize the situation" in this area claimed by China but also by Vietnam and Taiwan.
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