South China Sea

A top U.S. diplomat hopes the Senate will ratify a maritime treaty.  

The Philippine leader said that the meeting will address closer maritime cooperation between the U.S., the Philippines, and Japan.

Over the past decade, the PCG has become a respectable force – with a little help from Manila's friends

The reported collision came as the maritime disputes dominated discussions at a regional summit in Australia.

Allegations that Chinese vessels have used the toxic chemical in their fishing operations add to the climate of tension in the South China Sea.

The country's awkward geographic position with China militates against it adopting a strong pro-U.S. orientation.

Good relations with China have necessitated the downplaying of past conflicts by both countries.

The condemnation came after the Philippine Coast Guard reported another incident in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal on January 12.

Desalination machines and communications upgrades are slated for the nine features that Manila occupies in the contested waterway.

President Joko Widodo's state visit came in the middle of a Southeast Asian tour that also involved stops in the Philippines and Brunei.

The dueling patrols, which were scheduled to take place on January 3-4, encapsulate the intensifying frictions in the waterway.

The diplomats' statement came after a year of growing Chinese aggression in contested parts of the vital waterway.