Beijing said other countries’ patrols in the South China Sea were “provoking incidents” and “creating contradictions” as it rejected a German warship’s port call request.

In response to the German foreign ministry’s announcement that the frigate Bayern had been refused permission to visit Shanghai, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said on Thursday that “countries outside the region should respect regional countries’ efforts to maintain peace and stability, and play a constructive role”.…