UPDATE 2-U.S. military slams Chinese flights over South China Sea but says they posed no threat

* China conducted drills as U.S. carrier entered South China
Sea
* China angered by U.S. military activity in waterway

(Adds source comments, details, byline)
By Phil Stewart and Yimou Lee
WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on
Friday that Chinese military flights in the past week in the
South China Sea fit a pattern of destabilizing and aggressive
behavior by Beijing but posed no threat to a U.S. Navy aircraft
carrier strike group in the region.
"The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group closely
monitored all People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) and Air Force
(PLAAF) activity, and at no time did they pose a threat to U.S.
Navy ships, aircraft, or sailors," the U.S. military's Pacific
Command said in a statement.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said
the Chinese aircraft did not come within 250 nautical miles (460
km) of the U.S. Navy vessels.
Taiwan reported that several Chinese air force aircraft flew
into the southwestern corner of its air defense identification
zone last weekend, near the Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands,
including fighter jets and nuclear-capable H-6
bombers. Regional security and diplomatic sources familiar with the
situation said China's air force was dispatched on missions
beginning mid-morning on Jan. 23, coinciding with the U.S.
carrier group passing south of the Pratas.
China, which has long geared its military towards defending
itself against the United States, was conducting exercises that
would simulate an operation against an aircraft carrier, the
sources said.
"They purposely conducted the drills when the U.S. carrier
was passing through the Bashi Channel," one source said,
referring to the waterway between southern Taiwan and the
northern Philippines.
"That was not just meant for Taiwan. Most importantly, China
is trying to tackle the issue of the South China Sea: it wants
to stop the U.S. military from entering the South China Sea.
China wants to diminish the United States' weight in the western
Pacific."
The sources spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity as
they were not authorized to speak to the media.
China's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a
request for comment.
On Thursday, the ministry toughened its language towards
Chinese-claimed Taiwan, warning after last weekend's stepped-up
military activity near the island that "independence means war"
and that its armed forces were acting in response to provocation
and foreign interference.
China claims almost all the energy-rich waters of the South
China Sea, where it has established military outposts on
artificial islands. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan
and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the sea.
The waters have become a flashpoint in the Sino-U.S.
relationship. Washington regularly accuses Beijing of
militarizing the South China Sea and trying to intimidate Asian
neighbors who might want to exploit its extensive oil and gas
reserves.
China, in turn, regularly bristles at U.S. military activity
in the region, saying on Monday that such actions are not
conducive to peace and stability in the region. The U.S. Navy regularly conducts "freedom of navigation"
operations by ships close to some of the islands China occupies,
asserting freedom of access to international waterways.
The U.S. Pacific Command renewed its pledge to continue
operations in the region.
"The United States will continue to fly, sail and operate
wherever international law allows, demonstrating resolve through
our operational presence throughout the region," Pacific Command
said.