The situation in the South China Sea is causing deep concern, and China’s recent actions in the disputed waterway are highly destabilizing, states US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia and Pacific Affairs, Daniel Kritenbrink. The American diplomat made this statement at a briefing in Hanoi on June 22 against the backdrop of increasing tensions between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. “We think that China’s actions, particularly its recent actions, around the Second Thomas Shoal, vis-à-vis the Philippines have been irresponsible, aggressive, dangerous, deeply destabilis…