Observers question whether Washington is fueling tensions

The United States' latest statements about the South China Sea have prompted more US observers to question whether Washington's biased stance toward countries in the region will make relations there tenser and further complicate matters.

On Aug 3, the US State Department released a statement citing China's decision to upgrade the administrative level of Sansha city to the prefecture level and establish a new military garrison there as evidence that China is trying to militarize the South China Sea. China immediately responded by summoning Robert Wang, US charge d'affaires, to Beijing in protest of the accusation.