Beijing: China on Wednesday accused the US of 'deliberately destabilizing' the South China Sea after Washington voiced support for the Philippines over a recent maritime confrontation.

According to Anadolu Agency, the US State Department expressed solidarity with the Philippines, condemning what it described as Beijing's aggressive actions against a Philippine vessel. The State Department reiterated that the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty covers armed attacks on Philippine forces in the South China Sea.

Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott highlighted the US commitment to its ally, stating that the treaty extends to any attacks on Philippine armed forces or public vessels in the region. In response, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian argued that the Philippines had engaged in provocative activities and accused the US of misrepresenting China's actions as defensive measures to protect its sovereignty.

Lin criticized the US for using the mutual defense treaty to threaten China, suggesting that these actions reveal the US intention to provoke confrontation and destabilize the South China Sea. He labeled the US as the primary source of regional instability.

The maritime tensions escalated when China and the Philippines accused each other of provocation following a clash in the disputed South China Sea. China claimed its coast guard expelled two Philippine vessels from waters near Tiexian Jiao, part of the Spratly Islands, which China calls the Nansha Qundao. Manila, however, dismissed this claim, labeling China's actions as another act of aggression.

The Philippine Coast Guard reported that a Chinese vessel fired a water cannon and rammed a Philippine ship near Pag-asa Island, causing minor damage but no injuries. The South China Sea remains a critical trade route, with overlapping territorial claims between China and the Philippines contributing to ongoing tensions in the region.