The Philippines-U.S. alliance has a new opportunity to be strengthened and the focus this time should be contributing to regional strategic stability, which starts by deterring China in the West Philippine Sea, the portion of the South China Sea within Manila’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), and nearby flashpoints.

China should recognise that the Philippines is an independent and sovereign state whose actions and decisions are driven entirely by national interest and not at the direction of other countries, Manila's foreign ministry said on Monday.

China's Defense Ministry on Friday urged the Philippines to immediately halt "risky but futile provocations" in the South China Sea and return to the proper course of resolving disputes through dialogue.

Despite increased Chinese military presence in the South China Sea, Southeast Asian nations remain undeterred in asserting their maritime claims.

Britain is concerned by China's "dangerous and destabilising" activity in the South China Sea, British foreign minister David Lammy said on Monday."We are concerned by dangerous and destabilising activities by China in the South China Sea,

Manila says it is, alongside allies, ready to "counteract" any attempt by Beijing to restrict flights in airspace over the disputed South China Sea.

China has hit out at Britain's Foreign Secretary for "sowing discord" with a visit to a contested site in the South China Sea.

China has accused the Philippines of polluting the environment after it released footage it said showed troops burning rubbish at a disputed reef in the South China Sea. The video, published on social media by state broadcaster CGTN on Saturday,

In a video partly filmed alongside a vessel belonging to the Philippine Coast Guard, Lammy on March 10 condemned "dangerous and destabilising activities" by Beijing in the South China Sea. China claims the strategically important waterway in nearly its entirety,

China has called on the United Kingdom to respect its interests in the South China Sea and avoid provoking tensions in the region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning made the call on Tuesday.