The United States is not a party to the issue of the South China Sea and has no right to interfere in maritime issues between China and the Philippines, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Thursday after Washington and Manila made unwarranted remarks against Beijing.

UNITED States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said China's behavior in the South China Sea undermined regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law.

The 540-foot coast guard cutter has been operating within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone for over three weeks.

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Military bases jointly operated by U.S. and Philippine forces were among the sensitive sites where the car allegedly collected data.

Beijing and Manila have agreed to continue talks on settling their territorial differences despite Philippine protests about the presence of a Chinese "monster ship" near the contested Scarborough Shoal.

Manila would be able to raise South China Sea-related issues that could ‘embarrass’ Beijing and nudge it into a compromise, analysts say.

The Philippines and China agreed to seek common ground and find ways to cooperate despite their disagreements in the South China Sea, their foreign ministries said on Thursday, as heated rows persist over vessels deployed around disputed features.

The Philippines is preparing to take legal action against China for alleged environmental damage in the South China Sea. The south east nation seeks compensation for harm to coral reefs and marine life.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized Beijing’s “dangerous and destabilizing” actions in the South China Sea in his early days in office, as he discussed the contested waterway with counterparts from the Philippines and Indonesia.

THE arrest of a Chinese in Makati City last week for alleged espionage has raised concerns that China has 'sleeper agents' operating in the Philippines, masquerading as local citizens using fake IDs and birth certificates.