The Philippines and its allies, including Canada, Japan and the U.S., kicked off the maritime phase of Exercise Sama Sama 2024 in the South China Sea this week.  Derived from the Southeast Asian-focused Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training series of maritime security exercises,

The Philippines said a Chinese maritime militia vessel “deliberately sideswiped” and caused minor damage on a government fisheries boat in the South China Sea amid lingering tensions between the two nations in the disputed waters.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr pressed Southeast Asian leaders and China at a regional summit on Thursday to urgently speed up negotiations on a code of conduct for the South China Sea, while accusing Beijing of harassment and intimidation.

Philippine and Chinese government vessels collided last week in the South China Sea, according to officials from both nations, the most recent skirmish involving competing claimants to territory in the strategic waterway.