US disrupting security in South China Sea: Chinese FM

An MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter launches aboard USS Ronald Reagan in the South China Sea on July 17. - Reuters

BEIJING (The Straits Times/ANN): China's top diplomat has accused the United States and other Western nations of disrupting regional stability in the South China Sea, even as he urged South-east Asian countries to "press ahead" with the negotiations on a code to manage maritime and territorial disputes in the contested waters.

In a wide-ranging annual press conference that lasted more than 90 minutes, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi repeatedly warned the US of interfering in its domestic affairs, although he also held out an olive branch to the new Biden administration, calling for dialogue and cooperation.