China accused the Philippines on Friday of having "provoked trouble" in the South China Sea with U.S. backing, which Manila denied, as tensions between the two neighbours continue. "The Philippine side,

China accused the Philippines of provoking trouble in the South China Sea (SCS), allegedly under the influence of the United States. Responding to this,

The Philippines stood before the United Nations on Tuesday, December 10 to assert its sovereign rights over Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc), a coral reef formation within the country's exclusive economic zone where China announced territorial sea baselines last month.

The confrontations at Scarborough and Sabina shoals indicate that Beijing has no intention of easing off on its pressure campaign in disputed waters.

Diplomats and representatives from the militaries and coast guards of the United States, Japan and the Philippines had a maritime dialogue against a backdrop of clashes involving Philippine and Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.

China and the Philippines gave conflicting versions on Wednesday of a maritime confrontation around a contested shoal in the South China Sea, the latest row in a longstanding dispute between the neighbours.

The United States Navy will enhance the firepower of its fleet of fast and agile warships, making them capable of launching long-range missiles while deployed in the contested South China Sea. Announcing the upgrade,