China yesterday said the United States was responsible for "deliberate stirring up" of tensions in the South China Sea, after a US warship navigated through waters claimed by Beijing. "On Dec. 4, littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords illegaly entered the waters adjacent to Ren'ai Reef in the Nansha region of China without the approval of the Chinese government," Southern Theater Command spokesman Tian Junli said.

China says US 'stirring up' South China Sea tensions. (2023, December 5). The Philippine Star, p. A14.