Only the Philippines – and no other country – can decide the deployment of any military asset within its territory, the AFP asserted Friday.

The newly installed Trump administration has quickly reaffirmed America’s strong support for the Philippines in the face of an increasingly aggressive China in the disputed South China Sea, despite doubts to the contrary voiced by some observers.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held a first phone call with the Philippines’ foreign minister, telling him the Trump administration’s commitment to Manila is ironclad. They also discussed Beijing's "dangerous and destabilizing actions" in the South China Sea.

The Philippines on Monday (Jan 13) called on Beijing to desist from "escalatory actions" at a South China Sea shoal and said a protest has been lodged over the presence of Chinese coast guard, militia and navy in its exclusive economic zone.

Officials from the Philippines and China have held talks on the disputed South China Sea. Manila expressed "serious concern" over Beijing's deployment of its largest coast guard ship in Philippine waters.

Manila would be able to raise South China Sea-related issues that could ‘embarrass’ Beijing and nudge it into a compromise, analysts say.

France's aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle is to visit the Philippines next month, the French envoy to Manila said Thursday, signaling a deepening security cooperation between the two countries.

CHINA'S national artificial intelligence (AI) industry investment fund partnership was recently set up, billed at 60.06 billion yuan ($8.21 billion), the Securities Times reported on Monday.

A Chinese Coast Guard vessel prowling waters off Zambales has moved from 65 to 80-90 nautical miles offshore after the "strategic maneuvering" of a Philippine patrol vessel. Still, it remains within Philippine territory despite persistent radio challenges from the Philippine side.

The deployment of the U.S. military's Typhon missile launchers in the Philippines was in line with Washington's longstanding defence ties with the country, the Philippine armed

While violent clashes and bilateral disputes between Manila and Beijing have reached new heights, so can economic engagement.