China’s ‘monster’ ship entered its 13th day lurking within Philippine waters, said Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela on Friday,.

The Philippine navy said on Friday its ships were holding drills near a contested shoal in the South China Sea, a day after Manila and Beijing agreed to seek common ground and find ways to cooperate despite ongoing disputes.

Chinese Coast Guard ships fire water cannons at Unaizah May 4, a Philippine Navy chartered vessel, conducting a routine resupply mission to troops stationed at Second Thomas Shoal, on March 5, 2024, in the South China Sea. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines accused China on Tuesday of intimidating its fishermen at a disputed South China Sea shoal, and normalizing an “illegal presence,” after Beijing sent its largest coast guard vessel into Manila’s maritime zone.

THE PHILIPPINES under President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has filed 199 diplomatic protests against China, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs, amid growing tensions in the South China. Last year,

The Philippines said Sunday it had deployed a coast guard ship to challenge Chinese patrol boats attempting to "alter the existing status quo" of the disputed South China Sea.

The Philippines has deployed air and sea assets of its military and coast guard in its exclusive economic zone to monitor China's largest coast guard vessel, calling the ship's presence an act of Chinese "intimidation,

Japan and the Philippines vowed Wednesday to strengthen security cooperation to counter China's actions in key sea trade routes, amid speculation incoming US President Donald Trump could scale back security commitments in Asia.

A Philippine security official warned “all options are on the table” for Manila’s response to growing South China Sea aggression, including lawsuits.

MANILA on Tuesday accused China of intimidating Filipino fishermen near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea and normalizing its “illegal presence” after Beijing sent its biggest coast guard ship into the Philippines’  200-nautical-mile (370.