Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Tuesday that the United States is the biggest source of risk to regional stability, in response to a U.S. statement on the South China Sea.

Lin said facts show the Philippines provoked recent maritime incidents and bears responsibility for creating dangers at sea and undermining regional stability. He criticized Washington for ignoring facts, maligning China's legitimate maritime rights protection, and attempting to use the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty to threaten China – a move he said exposes America's intent to stoke confrontation and chaos in the South China Sea.