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China claims
almost all of the energy-rich waters of the South China Sea,
through which more than $5 trillion of maritime trade passes
each year. The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan
have overlapping claims.
Xinhua said the ships, including a new guided missile destroyed,
would take part in anti-submarine, anti-missile and other
exercises.
It did not say exactly where the drills would take place, but
noted they were routine and had been planned for this year.
China periodically announces such exercises in the South China
Sea as it tries to demonstrate it is being transparent about its
military deployments.
China has been at odds with the United States of late over the
strategic waterway.
Washington has criticized Beijing's building of artificial
islands in the South China Sea's disputed Spratly archipelago,
and has conducted sea and air patrols near them.
(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Robert Birsel)
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