On May 21, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang stated that the landing of the Chinese Air Force’s H-6K strategic bombers in the islands of the South China Sea had been a part of usual military drills: "The South China Sea Islands are China’s territory. The relevant military activities are the normal training of the Chinese military and
China Holds Unusual Military Drills in South China Sea, US-China Trade War on Hold
“We have seen these same reports and China’s continued militarization of disputed features in the South China Sea only serves to raise tensions and destabilize the region,” a spokesman for the Pentagon Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan said.