Ties between China and U.S. ally the Philippines have soured in the past few years, with spats frequent as Manila, under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, pushes back at what it sees as aggression by Bei

MANILA (Reuters) -- The Philippines has deployed air and sea assets of its military and coast guard in its exclusive economic zone to monitor China's largest coast guard vessel, calling the ship's presence an act of Chinese "intimidation, coercion and aggression."

The National Security Council on Monday said the presence of China’s “Monster Ship” in the country’s exclusive economic zone was part of Beijings continuing intimidation, coercion, aggression, and deception in its territorial row with Manila over the West Philippine Sea.