As the world's attention turned towards Washington and Donald Trump's inauguration, the Pentagon was operating decisively under the radar Days before Donald Trump's inauguration, Washington quietly deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the disputed South China Sea and staged secretive naval drills with the Philippines.

Taipei Bureau The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has vowed to continue its efforts to challenge China’s increasing presence in the South China Sea, asserting its determination to prevent Beijing from normalising illegal maritime patrols.