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.

A Philippine security official says China is “pushing us to the wall” with growing aggression in the disputed South China Sea and warned that “all options are on the table” for Manila’s response, including new international lawsuits.

The Philippine Coast Guard has entered its third week of actively challenging its Chinese counterparts, including a 12,000-ton “monster” China Coast Guard cutter within the country’s exclusive economic zone off Western Luzon.

The regional bloc ASEAN and China should make headway on a protracted code of conduct for the South China Sea by tackling thorny "milestone issues", including its scope and if it can be legally binding,

Analysts say the agreement 'commits both states to a status quo' and urge the Philippines to hold firm on its South China Sea stance In a rare moment of accord amid their simmering feud over the South China Sea,

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.