PLA navy chief demands U.S. stop "provocations" in South China Sea

The commander of the People's Liberation Army Navy Wu Shengli Thursday called on the United States to stop its "provocations" in the South China Sea.

The Chinese navy had exercised maximum restraint in the face of U.S. provocations to preserve bilateral ties, Admiral Wu said in a meeting with Admiral Scott Swift, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet in Beijing, referring to recent visits to the South China Sea by U.S. military vessels and planes.

"The U.S. side must stop its provocations in South China Sea and curb its navy operations," Wu said.