US Air Force B-52 bombers

China urged the US against hyping China's so-called militarization of the South China Sea and to stop creating trouble in the area, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Wednesday, in response to the sighting of two US Air Force B-52 bombers in the disputed area, while the Pentagon continues to call China a threat to the region.

 "I hope the US can make it clear whether it considers sending offensive strategic weapons like B-52 bombers to the South China Sea as militarization," Hua said during a regular briefing.

"If you often have someone coming to your door heavily armed, shouldn't you strengthen your security and defense capabilities?" she asked.

CNN cited a statement from the US Pacific Air Forces on Tuesday, saying that two B-52 bombers flew a training mission over the South China Sea and flew in the vicinity of the Nansha Islands.

The incident came just days after US Secretary of Defense James Mattis criticized Beijing for its "militarization of the islands," accusing China of "intimidation and coercion" in the region, CNN reported.

Hua warned the US that "running amuck is risky."

"China will not be intimidated by any military ship or aircraft, and we will take all necessary steps even more staunchly to defend the country's sovereignty and security, and to protect the peace and stability of the South China Sea region," she said.