South China Sea

The weather conditions were attributed to a monsoon surge in the South China Sea.

Mattis was sworn into the top job at Pentagon shortly after Donald Trump's inauguration.

The White House, however, refused to elaborate how it was planning to stop China from accessing the disputed waters.

While Australia is not a claimant in the dispute, it has been not been on the same page with China on the issue.

Xi is attending the 2017 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Delfin Lorenzana's stance is stronger than that of Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay.

Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is on a four-nation tour to shore up support against China's increasing presence.

The president-elect has upset China on several previous occasions.

The editorial stated the only way to deny China access to disputed territories is to 'wage war'.

The Japanese PM praised the Filipino leader's efforts in strengthening ties with China.

China's reaction follows Rex Tillerson's suggestion that the Asian giant be denied entry to the disputed territories.

The 'Jin' Type 094A carries 12 submarine-launched ballistic missiles known as 'big waves'.

China's foreign ministry has, however, played down the tough talks by Rex Tillerson over territorial disputes.

The People's Liberation Army now reportedly commands six naval reconnaissance vessels.

Beijing said Liaoning's movements complied with international law.

During his confirmation hearing, Tillerson likened China's assertiveness to Russia's annexation of Crimea.

However, it still strongly criticised the US and South Korea over Thaad deployment to contain North Korea.

It is the latest rumbling of a tense dispute between the two countries.

Hong Kong seized the vehicles in November as they were being shipped to Singapore from Taiwan.

Some American publications reported that Pentagon is considering deploying mobile artillery units in the disputed waters.

The Philippines president, however, downplayed concerns about Beijing's militarisation in the South China Sea.

Washington says it recognises the lawful uses of the sea, and the rules apply to the US, China and other nations.

This comes after the US President-elect Donald Trump's telephone call with the island's president upset Beijing.

Taiwan has also said that Chinese warships have passed through south of Taiwan and are heading southwest.

Satellite images show the surface-to-air missiles stationed in Hainan Island, which experts say is a temporary position.

Exercises were carried out by the Liaoning carrier group in the Yellow Sea, Beijing's defence ministry said.

A close-in and a long-range missile system are anticipated to be deployed in the Spratly islands.

The first flight took off from Haikou to Woody Island on 21 December.

Wang Yi says only mutual respect for each other's core interests will ensure stable relations.

A maritime political analyst said other claimants of the territorial dispute have militarised.