The Philippines rejects any attempt to undermine its national interests, especially by the use of force in the disputed South China Sea, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said on Friday. The Philippines and China have for months accused each other of dangerous manoeuvres involving their ships at the contested Second Thomas Shoal,

The United States has renewed its call on China to stop its aggressive actions in the South China Sea, saying a broader web of security alliances has emerged to preserve the rule of law in the disputed waters.

On the eighth anniversary of the landmark 2016 arbitral award favoring the Philippines in the South China Sea conflict, China firmly dismissed the ruling, describing it as "illegal, null and void."

The Philippines rejected on Tuesday China's accusation that its grounded warship on the contested Second Thomas Shoal in the South China had damaged the coral reef ecosystem in the area, laying the blame for damaging the marine environment on Beijing.