Daniel Kritenbrink and Sarah Beran are meeting Chinese officials to maintain ‘open lines of communication’, State Department says.

New deep-sea mobile operation can reportedly drill to a depth of 9,085 metres, a record for China as Beijing looks to rely less on imported oil and gas amid rising geopolitical uncertainties.

Several prominent Filipinos say the deal has effectively handed control of the Second Thomas Shoal to China.

AI-controlled weapon developed by Chinese scientists is up to 54 per cent more accurate than traditional water cannons.

The Philippine president said the cooperation agreement signed in Washington will change the dynamic in Asean and around the contested waterway.

Joint statement by the three leaders makes it clear the Washington summit was aimed at opposing China’s recent maritime activities.

Moscow is receiving drone and missile tech, satellite imagery and machine tools, aiding its biggest military build-up since the Soviet era, US officials say.

The relationship between the two Asian giants is already ‘complex and delicate’, despite their intertwined economies.

‘These meetings were not about any one other nation. This was about deepening and revitalising existing alliances and partnerships and strengthening some new ones.’

‘If China and Vietnam work well on this’, Manila would ‘not go too far to provoke’ Beijing, analyst says.

Former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte said Chinese President Xi Jinping strongly warned him against drilling for oil in the disputed waters.

Chinese foreign ministry says Beijing consistently committed to dialogue and consultation with Manila over the shoal.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has expressed outrage over a “secret agreement” on the South China Sea that threatens the Philippines’ sovereignty.

‘China’s current external stance and military actions present … the greatest strategic challenge,’ Prime Minister Fumio Kishida tells joint session of Congress.

Comments follow US President’s meeting with Japanese leader, where they unveiled a series of deals to strengthen military and economic ties to counter China.

Beijing’s reaction followed a directive by the Philippines to probe the reported online recruitment of Filipino military personnel as ‘part-time consultants’.

Trilateral represents ‘new era’ of partnership, says US leader, producing security, economic and diplomatic initiatives in show of unity with Manila.

Central to recent run-ins between the two sides are the Scarborough and Second Thomas shoals located inside Manila’s EEZ, but which Beijing claims as its own.

Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez says the Philippines cannot continue being ‘accepting’ of Beijing’s aggression in the South China Sea.

Agreements spanning defence, space, culture, diplomacy and research come amid rising Indo-Pacific tensions and Tokyo’s more robust role in the region.

Marcos said his government isn’t aware of any “gentleman’s agreement” with China, and were not briefed by his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, about it when he came into office in 2022.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jnr has unveiled a six-year plan to counter the risks posed by digital intrusions from abroad following a spate of cyberattacks blamed on Chinese hackers.

The upgraded Kaga, now capable of deploying the vertical take-off variant of the F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter, will be a welcome addition to Japan’s arsenal, analysts say.

Canberra insists the Aukus submarines are being acquired to strengthen Australia’s defence, and maintain that the nation will have sovereignty over the vessels.

Activists slam President Marcos Jnr for allowing the US to use Philippine military facilities, and call for a ‘demilitarised zone’ for local fishermen to fish peacefully.