The Latest Breaking News from South China Sea

MANILA: The Philippines and the United States are discussing conducting joint coast guard patrols, including in the South China Sea, a Manila official said on Monday.

Marcos Jr earlier summoned Beijing’s envoy to express ‘serious concern’ over China’s harassment of a Philippine ship.

The Philippines and the United States will this year carry out their biggest joint military drills since 2015, Manila's army chief said on Wednesday, against a backdrop of growing tensions with China in the South China Sea.

China’s foreign ministry defended the Chinese coastguard’s actions towards a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea.

The Philippines accused a Chinese coastguard ship of directing a ‘military-grade laser light’ at one of its vessels, temporarily blinding a crew member

MANILA: The Philippines on Tuesday filed a diplomatic protest calling on Beijing to ensure its vessels cease "aggressive activities" after Manila accused China's coast guard of trying to block one of its ships in the South China Sea using a "military grade laser."

The United States has renewed a warning that it will defend its treaty ally if Filipino forces come under an armed attack in the disputed South China Sea after a Chinese coast guard ship allegedly hit a Philippine patrol vessel with military-grade laser that temporarily blinded some of its crew

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr summoned China's ambassador on Tuesday to express his "serious concern" over China's actions in the South China Sea and the foreign ministry called on Beijing to stop its vessels' "aggressive activities".

The U.S. said China’s move to aim a military-grade laser light at a Philippine ship in an area claimed by both nations in the South China Sea was “provocative and unsafe” and directly threatens peace and stability in the region.