China and the Philippines are locked in confrontation in the disputed South China Sea and their encounters have grown more tense as Beijing presses its claims to shoals in waters that Manila says are well within its exclusive economic zone.

China's defense minister on Sunday acknowledged the importance of newly renewed military-to-military communications with the United States as tensions escalate in the Asia-Pacific, while at the same time accusing Washington of causing the friction with its support for Taiwan and the Philippines.

The Philippine president warns China not to cross a red line as their standoff in the South China Sea escalates.

WWIII COULD START OVER PHILIPPINES DISPUTE IN SOUTH CHINA SEA, CHINA 'NOT RESPECTING' TREATIES, EXPERT SAYS "If by a willful act a Filipino — not only serviceman but even Filipino citizen — is killed … that is what I think very, very close to what we ...

China's defence minister on Sunday acknowledged the importance of newly renewed military-to-military communications with the United States as tensions escalate in the Asia-Pacific, while at the same time accusing Washington of causing the friction with its support for Taiwan and the Philippines.

Emphasizing his administration’s adherence to rules-based order, President Marcos told Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonyte of the challenges the Philippines has to tackle, with help from other countries but without being subservient to any of them.