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The defense chiefs of the Philippines and the United States have again sounded the alarm over the escalating provocative activities of China in the South China Sea and the West Philippine Sea, including the deployment of a warship and more coast guard and militia vessels.

Back in 2012, during the 45th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Cambodia and before the rendition of the Arbitral Award in favor of the Philippines, we were a lone voice trying to convince our neighbors to stand up to Chinese aggressions in the South China Sea, given that most diplomatic circles were opting for a policy of appeasement towards a powerful and rising China.

The International Monetary Fund approved its long-delayed rescue programme on Monday after China, the South Asian nation's biggest bilateral lender, offered debt relief assurances.

China and Russia have often worked in lockstep at the UN Security Council, using their veto power as permanent council members to counter the West.

The Philippines and the United States once again stand together to condemn China’s illegal activities in the South China Sea that go against a 2016 ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, flexing the two countries' defense pact.