New Delhi, — A top Chinese military official has objected to the proposed joint military exercise between the United States and South Korea in the Yellow Sea.

General Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, told reporters that the location of the upcoming military drill is very close to Chinese territorial waters.

General Ma’s comment was China’s first public opposition to the drill, the China Daily reports.

The US and South Korea announced the combined military drill in early June to counter North Korea’s alleged sinking of an ROK’s warship Cheonan in late March that killed 46 sailors.

Soon after it was announced, the anti-submarine drill was delayed to mid-June, and then postponed again to the last week of June.

On June 28, South Korea again postponed the drill to July to ensure US attendance, the paper reports.