China, Philippines and midterm election
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Analysts suspect China's fleet of civilian research ships also gather intelligence on behalf of the People's Liberation Army.
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.
China and the Philippines each raised flags on Sandy Cay days apart, asserting rival claims. Analysts say Beijing aimed to show strength at home amid growing external pressure.
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.
Tensions rise as Philippine Navy accuses China of aggressive actions near Scarborough Shoal, escalating maritime standoff in the South China Sea.- Watch Video on English Oneindia
The Philippines and China gave conflicting versions on Thursday of a maritime confrontation around a contested shoal in the South China Sea, the latest incident in a longstanding dispute between the neighbours.