"China Condemns US Navy's Provocative Actions in Taiwan Strait and South China Sea"

China accuses the US of "abusing" international law with its military maneuvers in the western Pacific, particularly in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea, while the US defends its actions as in line with international laws guaranteeing freedom of navigation. The US aims to deter China from attacking Taiwan or enforcing territorial claims in disputes with smaller neighbors, such as the Philippines. China blames US support for emboldening the Philippines and calls for the US to stop interfering and provoking in the South China Sea. Diplomats from China and the Philippines have agreed to work toward lowering tensions in the region, but China warns of firm countermeasures if the Philippines insists on its own course.