Analysts suspect China's fleet of civilian research ships also gather intelligence on behalf of the People's Liberation Army.

The Philippines reaffirmed on Wednesday, April 30, that it continues to have direct communication lines with Beijing after its ambassador in China was summoned over concerns about Manila's position on Taiwan.

MANILA: The Philippines may have caught a rare break under US President Donald Trump's latest tariff impositions, and it is hoping to turn that into an edge.

The encounter was notable for the involvement of naval vessels—a rare occurrence in a long-running dispute more commonly played out by the nations' coast guards, seen as posing a lower risk of escalation into an armed conflict.

The use of Himars and NMESIS during the Balikatan exercise demonstrates the allies’ ability to respond to provocations, analysts say.

MANILA (AP) -- The Philippines signed a military pact with New Zealand on Wednesday, allowing their forces to hold joint exercises as Manila continues to build security alliances in reaction to China becoming increasingly aggressive in the disputed South China Sea.