Chinese missile frigate Yuncheng launches an anti-ship missile during a military exercise in the waters near south China’s Hainan Island and Paracel Islands in this July 8, 2016 file photo.
BEIJING — China said Monday that it is closing off a part of the South China Sea for military exercises this week, days after an international tribunal ruled against Beijing’s claim to ownership of virtually the entire strategic waterway.
Hainan’s maritime administration said an area southeast of the island province would be closed from Monday to Thursday, but gave no details about the nature of the exercises. The navy and Defense Ministry had no immediate comment.
The announcement came in the middle of a three-day visit to China by the US Navy’s top admiral to discuss the South China Sea dispute and ways to increase interactions between the two militaries.