People's Liberation Army PLA soldiers salute in front of nuclear-capable missiles during a massive parade to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Beijing October 1, 2009 (Reuters)

The United States and Canada are destabilizing the South China Sea region and are deliberately inciting risks and provocations, a spokesperson for the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army PLA, said on Sunday.

Shi Yi's remarks came in response to the incident that took place in China's vicinity on Saturday when a Chinese warship was around 130 meters away from hitting the American destroyer USS Chung-Hoon during a joint mission of the US and Canadian Navy that were sailing through the Taiwan Strait.

The crossing comes after China repeatedly decried the "illegal intrusion" of US warships into waters it claims in the South China Sea.

The Chinese army will always maintain high alert levels and carry out the necessary measures to resolutely respond to all threats and protect national sovereignty, security, and peace and stability in the region, Shi warned.

Commenting on the incident, the Pentagon issued a statement warning against the "increasingly risky and coercive activities" in Asia, adding that the US will "remain concerned about the PLA's (People's Liberation Army) increasingly risky and coercive activities in the region, including in recent days."

NATO-like alliances

China's Minister of National Defense, Li Shangfu, cautioned on Sunday against the establishment of military alliances resembling NATO in the Asia-Pacific region, warning that such alliances would lead to a dangerous cycle of conflict.

"Attempts to push for NATO-like (alliances) in the Asia-Pacific is a way of kidnapping regional countries and exaggerating conflicts and confrontations," Li said at the top security summit in Singapore, the Shangri-La Dialogue, attended by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

"We must not forget the severe disasters brought by the two world wars to peoples of all countries, and we must not allow such tragic history to repeat itself," he added.