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.

The Philippines will soon decide on an international platform to sue China for alleged damage to the marine environment, its justice minister said, as it pursues a second high-profile legal challenge against Beijing over the South China Sea.

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

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.

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.

Only the Philippines – and no other country – can decide the deployment of any military asset within its territory, the AFP asserted Friday.

The deployment of the U.S. military's Typhon missile launchers in the Philippines was in line with Washington's longstanding defence ties with the country, the Philippine armed forces said on Friday.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel BRP Cabra's strategic maneuvering has kept the Chinese Coast Guard vessel 3103 from getting closer to the Zamba