Huangyan Island. [File photo: China.org.cn]

China's Ministry of National Defense has responded to reports that six U.S. Air Force planes carried out a flight mission in "international airspace" in the vicinity of Huangyan Island in the South China Sea on April 19.

The ministry's Information Bureau said in a statement that the U.S. is pushing militarization of the South China Sea in the name of "Freedom of Navigation".

It stressed that China is opposed to such actions which threaten the sovereignty and security of countries around the South China Sea and undermine regional peace and stability.

It noted that Huangyan Island is China's inherent territory and said the Chinese military would take all necessary measures to safeguard national sovereignty and security.