China demands Australia stop 'inciting confrontation' over South China Sea

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has demanded Australia stop "exaggerating tensions and inciting confrontation" over the South China Sea after Penny Wong warned Beijing against "destabilising" conduct in the region.

The comments came after China and the Philippines blamed one another for a physical confrontation between the China Coast Guard and the Philippine Navy in the South China Sea on Monday.

On Wednesday Senator Wong said Australia was concerned about "aggression" and "destabilising conduct" and that countries had a "choice to make" about how to respond.

When asked about Senator Wong's comments, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said that "whenever there is the slightest disturbance at sea … the same small handful of countries rush to the forefront to oppose China without regard for the facts".

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