Full coverage: The South China Sea Issue

China has launched annual military exercises in the South China Sea that are set to end next Monday.

China’s Maritime Safety Administration has released the location of the drills online, which covers waters around the Xisha Islands. All other military vessels are prohibited from the area until the drills end next week.

The Hong Kong Economic Times says Chinese warships have been spotted at Hainan’s Sanya military port. Witnesses say the fleet includes the guided missile destroyers Shenyang and Ningbo and the the missile frigate Chaozhou.

The navy exercises are set to end July 11. China says the military exercise is an annual routine drill.