United States accused of 'causing turbulence' in South China Sea

China's Ministry of National Defense said on Thursday that there is "no bigger factor than United States interference in causing turbulence" in the South China Sea.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, the ministry spokesman, made the remarks at a news conference in Beijing in response to recent comments and actions by US and Philippine politicians, noting that China "will not allow the Philippines to act willfully".

Recently, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized China's operations in the South China Sea, and reiterated the US defense commitment to the Philippines.