The Latest Breaking News from South China Sea

Deal expands Washington’s access to military bases near Taiwan and the South China Sea

The United States and the Philippines on Thursday announced plans to expand America's military presence in the Southeast Asian nation, with access to four more bases as they seek to deter China’s increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan and in the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippines has granted the United States greater access to its military bases, their defence chiefs said on Thursday, amid mounting concern over China's increasing assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea and tension over self-ruled Taiwan.

Move comes amid concerns about China’s assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea and over self-ruled Taiwan.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's visit to the Philippines this week is expected to bring an announcement of expanded U.S. access to military bases in the country, a senior Philippines official said on Wednesday.

JAKARTA: Indonesia plans to offer 10 oil and gas working areas this year, including a block in the South China Sea, amid efforts to boost energy production and make new discoveries, a senior energy ministry official said on Monday.

Over a few hours under grey skies, dozens of combat planes and helicopters roar on and off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Nimitz, in a demonstration of U.S. military power in some of the world's most hotly contested waters.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says he has proposed to China that the two countries hold talks between their foreign ministers to quickly resolve any new conflicts in the disputed South China Sea, and blamed Chinese actions for the disagreements

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. says the long-raging disputes in the South China Sea that involve China, the Philippines and other coastal states have kept him “up at night” and warned that a war in Asia, like the fighting in Ukraine, would be disastrous to the world

Drills came as the US Nimitz carrier group also conducted ‘maritime strike training’ in the contested waterway.

The Philippine Supreme Court has declared unconstitutional a 2005 pact by China, the Philippines and Vietnam to jointly explore for oil in the disputed South China Sea