The Philippines and the United States carried out joint maritime exercises for the fifth time in the South China Sea, Manila’s armed forces said yesterday, in a move that would likely irk China. The Philippine military said in a statement it held a “maritime cooperative activity” with the US on Friday and Saturday,

The Philippines and mutual defense treaty ally United States conducted a two-day bilateral Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in West Philippine Sea

Analysts say the agreement 'commits both states to a status quo' and urge the Philippines to hold firm on its South China Sea stance In a rare moment of accord amid their simmering feud over the South China Sea,

Taipei Bureau The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has vowed to continue its efforts to challenge China’s increasing presence in the South China Sea, asserting its determination to prevent Beijing from normalising illegal maritime patrols.