South China Sea

Philippine officials say such joint exercises with U.S. forces do not target any country. But Beijing says increased U.S. security deployments in Asia target China and undermine regional stability.

The legal case brought by Sulu Sultanate heirs against Malaysia highlights the unexpected links between present day tensions and European colonialism in Southeast Asia.

Canberra is also considering whether to take part in joint patrols in the disputed South China Sea.

India has long used its navy to build ties with maritime nations in the Indo-Pacific, but this exercise steps up collaboration by tying up with ASEAN as a group.

The statement from Washington followed another near-collision between Philippine and Chinese ships in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is a crowded region with a substantial level of military capabilities already present. The risks of escalation are real.

The ongoing maritime disputes have become grafted onto the bitter political rivalry between the Malaysian leader and opposition leader Muhyiddin Yassin.

Despite promises from the Indonesian and Chinese foreign ministers, there is little reason to expect rapid progress on the long-awaited Code of Conduct.

A spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard said it was a "certainty” that joint patrols would resume in the near future.

The Philippine president said Manila will continue to push back against China, despite his proposal for higher-level talks to rapidly address future conflicts at sea.