For the first time, China has officially voiced its clear opposition to a joint military exercise that South Korea and the U.S. are planning to conduct in the Yellow Sea.

Beijing's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Thursday told a regular news briefing that China "resolutely opposes" foreign warships and military aircrafts coming close to Chinese waters, including the Yellow Sea, and conducting activities that affect Chinese security interests.

The spokesman said that China hopes relevant countries will remain calm and refrain from acts that intensify tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region.