The Canadian ambassador says his country and the Philippines are in the final stages of negotiating a key defense pact that will allow their forces to hold larger military drills in the South China Se

According to Philippine media reports, the US, the Philippines, Australia, and Japan held a joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea on Wednesday. At the same time, Philippine media did not hesitate to hype the so-called Chinese "monster ship.

China has conducted military patrols in the South China Sea while the Philippines was holding joint naval drills with the U.S., Japan and Australia, saying Manila is undermining Beijing's claims in the region.

Three Chinese Navy warships sailed through Philippine territory as tensions escalated over the South China Sea. The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) vessels reportedly violated maritime protocols as they entered Philippine archipelagic waters without proper identification,