The Latest Breaking News from the South China Sea

President Biden to address concerns over China's actions in South China Sea at upcoming summit with Japan and Philippines, focusing on regional security ch...

About 250 Filipinos live on Thitu Island, the largest and most inhabited island of the Spratlys, in the South China Sea. But Chinese ships are never far away.

The leaders of Japan and the Philippines head to Washington this week for a first trilateral summit aimed at boosting defence ties, hot on the heels of four-way military drills in the South China Sea that riled Beijing.

The maritime activities took place days before US President Joe Biden was due to hold the first trilateral summit with the leaders of the Philippines and Japan, with growing tensions over the hotly contested South China Sea on the agenda.

A senior lawmaker from Australia recently visited Taiwan and discussed the potential for security cooperation between the two countries. The visit comes at a time of heightened tensions in the region, with China's increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea and its ongoing efforts to isolate Taiwan diplomatically.

China conducted "combat patrols" Sunday in the South China Sea, its army said, the same day the Philippines, the United States, Japan and Australia held their first joint drills in the disputed waters.

China conducts patrols in the South China Sea in response to planned U.S.-led exercises, amid escalating tensions and territorial disputes.

Beijing’s naval and air patrols in the disputed waterway take place as several US allies conduct first joint drills.

Learn about the joint naval exercises planned by US, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines in the South China Sea to counter Beijing's assertive actions.