Washington: On July 26, the United States accused China of increased “provocations” against rival claimants to territory in the South China Sea and other states operating there. “There is a clear and upward trend of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) provocations against South China Sea claimants and other states lawfully operating in the region,” Jung Pak, deputy assistant secretary for East Asia at the State Department, told a U.S. think tank event, referring to the People’s Republic of China.
