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.

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.

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.

Both sides have agreed to advance coast guard and marine scientific cooperation and resolve issues peacefully.

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.

Beijing and Manila have agreed to continue talks on settling their territorial differences despite Philippine protests about the presence of a Chinese “monster ship” near the contested ...

The China Coast Guard monster ship’s frequent anchoring very near Zambales aims to scare, surveil and sabotage.

THE US military has moved its Typhon launchers, which can fire multipurpose missiles up to thousands of kilometers, from Laoag airfield in the Philippines to another location on the island of Luzon, a senior Philippine government source said.

The Philippines will soon decide on an international platform to sue China for alleged damage to the marine environment, its justice minister said, as it pursues a second high-profile legal challenge against Beijing over the South China Sea.