China will hold military training in the South China Sea from July 29 to August 2 over a large area including the Paracel Islands and Macclesfield Bank, the country’s maritime security regulator for know on Friday.
In a statement, the agency said ships were prohibited from entering the area during training.
China claims most of the energy-rich waters in the South China Sea. The Paracel Islands, consisting of 30 islands, are occupied by China, but are also partially claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.
Macclesfield Bank, an entirely underwater atoll of reefs and shoals east of the Paracels, is administered by the Chinese city of Sansha but is also claimed by Taiwan.
