China on Thursday blamed the Philippines' actions for recent rising tension between the two sides in the hotly contested South China Sea.<br /><br />At a regular press conference, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian accused the Philippines of "stirring up trouble and making provocation" on the South China Sea issue.<br /><br />Beijing and Manila have a long history of maritime territorial disputes in the strategic waterway and there have been repeated confrontations between their vessels near contested reefs in recent months.
