Philippine authorities said Thursday that they had arrested five Chinese citizens for alleged spying, a week after arresting another Chinese national in the midst of a territorial dispute between Manila and Beijing in the South China Sea.

Analysts say it the proposal was likely rhetorical rather than genuine, with little chance Beijing would ever take up such a deal.

President Ferdinand Marcos said Thursday his government will remove a US missile system from the Philippines if Beijing ends its "aggressive and coercive behaviour" in the contested South China Sea and ceases claiming Filipino territory.

Philippine security officials said Thursday they took into custody five more Chinese spies, following the arrest of a compatriot for espionage this month.

The Philippines has launched a comic book to counter what the country says is China’s disinformation campaign to push its expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea

Several Chinese coastguard vessels accused of making ‘aggressive manoeuvres’ towards Philippine fisheries boats.

Investing in the national grid operator, partly owned by China’s State Grid Corp, boosts government control over critical power infrastructure amid geopolitical tensions.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed Washington's commitment to Manila and condemned Beijing for its "dangerous and destabilising" actions in the Sea, in his first phone call with Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo.

THE Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) on Tuesday night said it had sent its biggest ship — the 97-meter BRP Teresa Magbanua — to monitor Chinese vessels near the coast of Zambales province in the country’s north.

The Philippines said on Saturday it has suspended a scientific survey in the South China Sea after two of its fisheries vessels faced "harassment" and aggressive behaviour from China's coast guard and navy.

MANILA: Philippine authorities are pushing for tougher anti-espionage laws, after the recent arrest of a suspected Chinese spy raised concerns over foreign intelligence threats to national security.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticised China’s ‘dangerous’ actions towards the Philippines in the South China Sea.