The Philippines is stepping up efforts to strengthen its defence partnerships as tensions with China persist in the South China Sea. Manila is working to finalise defence agreements with Canada and New Zealand while also looking to expand joint military drills with the United States,

China accused Australia of provocation with a maritime patrol in the South China Sea, as a Chinese jet released flares near an Australian aircraft. Australia upheld its actions under international law,

US think tank report says Washington can initiate ‘virtuous cycle of de-escalatory steps’ to reduce risk and help Manila bolster its lawful claims.

Australia has accused China ’s military of “unsafe and unprofessional” conduct following an incident over the contested South China Sea. The Australian government said a Chinese J-16 fighter released flares close to one of its maritime patrol aircraft, posing a risk to the plane and its crew.

Australia has accused China of 'unsafe and unprofessional' actions involving a Chinese fighter jet intercepting an Australian surveillance aircraft over the South China Sea. Beijing, however, claims the Australian aircraft violated its airspace.

Earlier, Chinese naval vessels attracted Manila’s ire as they crossed Basilan Strait on the way to distant-sea training exercise.

The latest Maritime Security Threat Advisory from Dryad Global states that China’s military activity near Scarborough Shoal in

Crew members assigned to the Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Sindangan say they knew their mission would involve facing off against huge, numerous, intimidating Chinese vessels in the contested waters of the Sea.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Philippine counterpart, Enrique Manalo, discussed “coordination on addressing China’s destabilizing actions in the South China Sea” and increased economic cooperation in a meeting in Munich on Friday,