In September, an Italian aircraft carrier joined American and Australian air and naval forces for exercises in the South China Sea, a strategically important region due to rising tensions with China.

The Philippines will continuously deploy vessels in the contested Sabina Shoal in the South China Sea, its coast guard said on Monday after a Philippine ship returned to port after a five-month deployment there.

The Philippines insisted on Monday that it had not given up a South China Sea reef, two days after it pulled out a ship stationed there following a months-long standoff with rival claimant China.But Tarriela on Monday maintained the withdrawal from Sabina was "not a defeat",

Beijing says Manila’s actions in disputed waters ‘have seriously infringed on China’s territorial sovereignty’

Philippine leaves Sabina Shoal after five-month deployment Philippines says to replace ship to maintain presence in area China says Manila’s actions infringe on its sovereignty China says to continue to carry out law enforcement activities MANILA — The Philippines said it was sending a vessel to Sabina Shoal to replace a coast guard ship that returned